Do you find yourself peeking back at your past and marveling or horrified at your progress?
A while ago, I was an asshole who didn’t take any responsibility for my actions, and got wasted and stayed out all hours of the night. The specifics are hazy, but my mum, with whom I was living, decided enough was enough, and I became homeless.
I had
No job.
No money.
Nowhere to live.
Thirty-four years later, I’ve been married for almost 24 years, have two adult children, one of whom attends Johns Hopkins University, and am a personal trainer with 15 years of experience. Additionally, I am a freelance writer, published on some of the world’s top fitness websites.
Oh, yeah, and I’ve also ghostwritten a book.
Progress can appear good or not so great when measured over time, depending on your perspective and where you stand. Here, we’ll dive into progress, its not-so-obvious markers, and how to get some.
What Does Progress Mean
Here’s what it means in its noun and verb forms.
Noun: Forward or onward movement toward a destination.
Verb: Move forward or onward in space or time.
There is not much difference, but notice that both phrases use the word ‘forward’. Forward progress is different depending on your perspective. For instance, if your goal is to lose fat and the scale confirms it, you have made progress by subtraction. If your goal is to add muscle, and the scale and mirror give you the thumbs up, then you have made progress by addition.
Getting a roof over my head was a significant step forward, as my living situation improved. Progress is different strokes for different folks.
For me, it meant shedding my old skin like a snake. I wouldn’t be where I am today if I had remained the same cocky asshole that found himself on the street 34 years ago.
There was stuff that needed to go, and it was by subtraction.
My progress was one step forward, two steps back, and it was a painful experience. However, looking into my past, it can be said that progress has been made.
Looking back into your past is like comparing apples to oranges, but if you feel stuck and feel you’re not making any progress, taking a peek back can show you how far you have come. Sometimes, when feeling blue, peeking back reminds me that my life could’ve been much different from what it is today.
Progress Means Discomfort
You know about the Twilight comfort zone?
That warm, comfy place where you can stay, where you are, and nobody bothers you. I’m a massive fan of it. However, to make progress as a writer, there was one thing I needed to do.
To get out of my comfort zone.
I read—not any books, but books that have complex concepts over my head. My brain hurts, and I feel discomfort, but leaving my comfort zone helps improve my outlook as a writer and a human being.
It is similar to exercise.
Making progress in the gym and with the scale involves discomfort. You may be doing exercises you may not like, lifting more weight or reps, which causes muscle discomfort, or changing your diet and reducing the consumption of some of your favorite foods. Either way, you are enduring discomfort to make progress.
Your comfort zone is a great place, but if you’re stuck and need progress, it is where it dies. Seth Godin had this to say about progress.
“Tension is the feeling we experience just before we grow. Ironically, it’s what we seek, but at the very same time, we avoid it.”
Progress in the gym or your circumstances requires tension, and avoiding it means you’re doing yourself a disservice. It’s easier said than done, but it is worth noting if you need some.
Progress Myths
Now, let’s clear out some misconceptions about it as I see it.
Progress is not a ‘go big or go home’ type of deal. Some people believe that if you’re not making vast improvements, you are not making progress.
Well, if you scored 90% on your math test and then 91% on the same subject, that’s progress. Progress comes in all shapes and sizes, including small.
Progress is not linear.
Losing 5 pounds last week or adding 5 pounds to your bench doesn’t mean it will happen this week. You can do all the right things and remain stagnant or go backwards. Just think of progress like life or the stock market. There will be ups and downs, but hopefully, you’ll see a gradual upward curve over time.
Failure doesn’t stop progress.
If you’re stepping up, trying to make things happen, lifting or pushing boundaries in your career or personal life, you’ll fall flat on your face. But failure isn’t a complete stop. It’s more like a comma, a brief pause to gather your thoughts, learn, and recalibrate.
Every setback, every missed lift, every goal not quite reached is packed with feedback if you’re willing to look for it. So, instead of fearing failure, embrace it.
How to Get Some
With lifting, the most significant measure of progress is progressive overload—doing more work than you did the last time. There are several ways to do it, but my favorite is the one-more-rep method.
The next time you do an exercise, add one more rep with the same weight. You will make incredible progress over time when you do this between the 6 to 15-rep range. You don’t see it week to week, but when you take a peek back, you’ll realize how far you have come.
There is a saying that goes something like, If it is important, you will do it every day. Think about it: Does anyone get better at something by doing it less? It comes down to a common cliché: how bad do you want it? But it’s a little more than that.
If you want to make progress, you need to embrace discomfort, fail, get up, and try again – and do it over and over again. Rinse and repeat. Much of the progress I have made over my lifetime has come due to persistence.
My suggestion is to embrace it.
Wrapping Up
Progress can be elusive or as easy as adding one more rep. It is a fickle mistress, but we strive for it in the gym and in life. You don’t have to sell your soul to make some, but you must work for it.
Are you willing to put in the work?
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