At the beginning, progress comes to us generously. It showers us with visible results, and that visibility is what motivates us to continue.
This is true for almost anything we start—whether it’s exercising, learning a new skill, or taking on a new hobby. When we begin exercising, weight often drops quickly and muscle definition becomes visible. When learning a new skill, the fundamentals are usually picked up fast.
Visibility fuels motivation. Then comes the period when progress is no longer visually noticeable. You work and work, but the scale doesn’t move. You practice again and again, yet you don’t feel like you’re improving. It seems as though no progress is being made, as if you’re standing still.
During this phase, you enter what I call the valley of despair. You’re in a rut, and continuing feels difficult because your motivation has faded. But if you stick with it, you will get through it. All it takes is action—one foot in front of the other, moving forward.
After crossing the valley of despair, you’ll notice a change in yourself. It won’t be visible from the outside. It will be felt internally. Remember that valley—it will return at different points in your journey. But once you recognize it, it becomes far less daunting.
This is where your focus needs to shift—little by little. Do one small thing each day. Write one sentence. Do one squat or push-up. Thank one person. A little goes a long way. A few sentences a day can turn into a hundred pages of writing. Thanking one person per day means expressing gratitude to 365 individuals in a year. It all adds up.
Don’t underestimate your daily actions. They are making a difference.
James Clear wrote, “Mastery requires lots of practice. The more you practice something, the more boring and routine it becomes. Thus, an essential component of mastery is the ability to maintain your enthusiasm. The master continues to find the fundamentals interesting.”
It takes consistency and patience. Keep taking action every day and watch how far you’ll go in one year. You’ll be amazed.
Take care.