“Challenges, failures, defeats and ultimately, progress, are what make your life worthwhile.” —Maxime Lagace
My husband has been encouraging me to get rid of our stuff that continues to accumulate around the house. So, I’ve been researching lots of different downsizing and organizing strategies; everything from Marie Kondo’s life changing magic to 15 other methods that profess to work! My husband finally consoled me on the difficult assignment and said, “Karen, I’d just like to see we were making some progress.”
Making Progress
‘Progress’, there was that word again. I had heard it a few days earlier when my husband was talking about his golf goals for this year. He exclaimed that he would like to keep making progress.
I have been thinking a lot about the word ‘progress’ and the impact it has on our lives.
Since the beginning of our existence, progress has followed us wherever we go. Our progress seems to define us, doesn’t it? As a baby we made progress in our sleeping schedule, our sitting up, our standing up, taking our first steps and speaking our first words.
We have graduations from preschool that celebrate the four-year old’s progress. Kindergarten teachers send out regular progress reports. We make progress with our reading ability, with our bicycle riding, with our sports and our grades. We graduate from middle school and high school and progress from a permit to an actual driver’s license. Some of us make progress in college.
We find ourselves taking steps up the isle and having our own family. We get a job, progress up the ladder with certificates, titles and raises. Our boss walks in the door and asks us, “How’s the project going; are you making good progress?”
Our lives appear to be a continuous upward slant of making progress… until it’s not.
The Opposite of Progress, a.k.a., Feeling Stuck
“The moment a man ceases to progress, to grow higher, wider and deeper, then his life becomes stagnant.” —Orison Marden
I’ve noticed a lot of articles lately that talk about the phenomenon of ‘feeling stuck’ in retirement, and I’ve been listening to my friends talking about the challenges of this season in their life. What are we to do? How might we fill this void? It occurred to me that feeling stuck goes hand in hand with ceasing to make progress.
Once we have reached the ‘top of our mountain’, received the gold watch, the congratulations, the retirement party, our first social security check, it almost feels that we have reached a plateau. Our friends pat us on the back and speak soothing words of comfort, “You should be proud of yourself; you have had a good run! Now you can just rest.” And as you have no doubt heard, “It’s all downhill from here.”
So, do you think our ceasing to make progress as we age is just the natural and expected order of things?
Is it time to just relax and take naps in our cushy rockers and proudly announce, “Ah, this is the life; I don’t have to worry about making progress anymore. I’m retired… I don’t need to make progress! There are no more report cards, no salary raises, or end of the year reviews. I no longer have accountability from others watching to see if I am making enough progress in my life. I’ve served my time; I deserve to just slow down and rest.”
I recently heard an interview with Tim Tebow, former NFL quarterback, entrepreneur, football analyst and speaker. He also runs a charity for orphans. The interviewer talked about the many projects he was currently involved in. “Don’t you think, Tim, that after all your successes and hard work that you deserve to just slow down and rest for a while?” Tebow’s response: “You know, I don’t really think God wants me to arrive at the gates of heaven well rested.”
If We Don’t Slow Down – What Do We Do?
“Nature knows no pause in progress and development and attaches her curse on all inaction.” —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
So, what if ceasing to make progress is not the natural order of things? What if we are meant to continue learning, continue growing, continuing to improve? And, if Goethe is correct, will our curse for inaction find us sitting alone, sick and disengaged with all that once brought us joy and gave us purpose?
I have come to believe that if we find ourselves stuck, in a rut, facing a stagnant life or feeling devoid of purpose, then perhaps a solution lies in identifying areas we want to continue to make progress in.
Whether it be improving our relationships, our health, our new side gig, a creative endeavor, our golf game, or downsizing our homes; I suggest we create a plan for making more progress in our life.
- What is/are the thing/s you want to make progress in?
- Be clear about why you want to make progress in this area.
- Be aware of where you are currently at.
- Create a vision of what your life will look like and how you will feel when you make progress.
- Break your progress plan down into small action steps.
- Celebrate your successes and recognize your progress
Decide on Your Goals and Just Go for It!
“Actively recognizing progress towards your goal will ultimately end up inspiring you and have you pushing even harder.” —Denzel J. Wellington
My goals are many this year; I want to enhance my relationships with my grandchildren; I want to learn more history, expand my knowledge of the Bible, write more articles, teach more classes, work on improving my memory, cook more variety of foods, lift more weights and do more pushups and yes – I want to get rid of more stuff!
Questions to Reflect on:
What are you making progress on this year? Where are you feeling stuck? Are there particular goals you want to accomplish for the day, the week, the month, the year?
