Tiny changes are easier to make and easier to sustain, but relying on small actions can make it difficult to see how much progress we've made. It can be frustrating to see others making drastic changes and having sudden breakthroughs (or breakthroughs that appear to be sudden) when you feel like you're plodding along with tiny, almost invisible, incremental improvements.
Try to remember that everyone's circumstances are different -- and two people taking similar actions may have two very different outcomes due to outside factors. Our lives and challenges are unique, and comparing ourselves to others is rarely helpful.
One of the reasons I encourage you to keep a journal and use tools like habit trackers is to help chart your progress over time. I know that I have a peculiarly analytical approach and not everyone enjoys making graphs the way I do. But even diary-style journal entries can give you a record of your growth.
I recently began to feel like I couldn't stick to anything and wasn't moving forward on my goals. But when I went to fill in my tracker page one evening, I realized that I had maintained one of my habits for all but two days out of an entire month! I had succeeded in one small way without even noticing.
Most of us don't make regular, linear progress. Self-improvement often takes a "two steps forward, one step back" course. If you imagine your improvement as a line graph, you may trend up for a while, back down for a bit, and then up later. It may feel like a roller coaster, but you will likely see that the overall curve trends upward if you look at the general trend over time. You're still improving -- even if your daily effort is less consistent.
Challenge:
This week, I encourage you to look back over your records to find your hidden successes. Review your journal entries and tracker pages. Where have you maintained your progress? Which actions have been most successful over time? Do your journal entries give you a sense that you feel better on more days than you used to? Discover and celebrate your small wins. (If you aren't currently journaling or tracking your habits, this week would be a great time to start.)