One Step Back
Progress is not a straight line. It’s easy to get frustrated by this, but the older I get the more I truly understand how this works. “Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.”
A friend has been recovering from a long and difficult illness and was recently seeing rapid gains and progress. We all felt she had truly turned a corner and was moving quickly toward the finish line. Then last weekend she had a set-back. In the big picture it was a small bump in the road, but it was incredibly frustrating to my friend. When it happened, I immediately said “Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.” This is how it works. I’m happy to report that my friend is moving past this event and that corner is still in the rear view mirror.
It’s impossible to expect constant progress every day, or every time we work on something. I have always been reminded of this in the gym where some days you are strong and break records, and some days you just don’t have it. Progress with fitness is measured in months and years, not days.
A very wise teacher, Dr. Kennedy Shultz, once said that expecting a life with no downturns or problems is like wanting a straight line on your EKG. There will be ups and down. That’s life.
Each day when I start my martial arts training, the instructor will remind us to adjust for how we feel that day. If you feel strong, push yourself. If you feel tired or something is hurting, adjust and do less. The point is to move, being consistent with daily practice. This adds up to real growth over time.
I encourage you to keep pushing yourself and have those short term goals. But it’s the big picture goals that really matter. If you encounter a set back, remind yourself that life is “Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.” Take that step back, gain that perspective, and then push forward again. You can do it, over time!
Tim Hinton
February 18, 2022
