Life is best measured by progress, not perfection. Enjoying the journey as well as the destination helps us maintain a healthy perspective of success.
We all have goals in our lives, some more specific than others. In my mind, I try to envision goals as pictures – paintings of what the ideal is, or what I would like it to be.
WHEN I MENTOR PEOPLE, I ASK THEM TO PAINT A PICTURE OF FINANCIAL CONFIDENCE. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE, FEELING GOOD ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE?
Painting a mental picture creates a focal point around your aspiration. I can see myself 20 pounds lighter. I can see myself completing a triathlon. I can see being debt-free or retirement ready. I can see us being sublimely happy in our marriage and where it’s going.
The painting is the ideal. Perfection! But perfection can be nearly impossible to achieve.
And measuring progress toward achieving it – especially early on – can be discouraging.
Instead of focusing on how far you have to go, celebrate how far you’ve come.
If your goal is to run a 10k by the end of the year, don’t be disappointed because you can only run a mile (so far). Stop and realize that six months ago, you couldn’t run around the block. Celebrate progress and keep moving forward. Keep your eye on the prize.
Celebrating the gap is a principle that can work with any area of life. It’s motivation and reinforcement. It helps keep you on the path. It can inspire hope and optimism.
Don’t let your achievement get lost in the shuffle. You’ve accomplished a lot already (and shortened how far you have to go).
I’ve used it with people I’m coaching when they’re doing well, when they’re really getting their arms around things. I remind them of the progress they’ve made. Then I tell them to take their spouse out to dinner, to talk about it, and celebrate.
The celebration part is really important.
SEEING THE IDEAL AND CELEBRATING YOUR PROGRESS IS ONE FORMULA FOR TURNING OPTIMISM AND HOPE INTO REALITY.
Then, step back and take a fresh look at your picture.
The ideal is often in motion, just as you are. Circumstances change. New variables arise. Or the goal may remain the same, but your perspective has changed. You may need to adjust your plan to match your new picture, your new ideal.
When we set out together many years ago, Nancy and I had a picture of what our “family” would look like. But early on, she was changed by what she saw at the hospital where she worked as a nurse. She painted a picture for us of foster care, and suddenly, our family ideal was transformed. In the years since, we’ve taken in seven foster children, adopted one, and took in another who became part of our family. Five of our grandchildren are through foster care.
We’ve come a long, long way as a family. We’ve celebrated many happy victories and occasions together. Yet we continue to tweak the plan. Although, these days, the changes are minor.
Our system is simple. We try to sit down as often as we can in the morning, have a cup of coffee, and talk about the day ahead. At night, we have a glass of wine and talk about what actually happened. We communicate. We celebrate. And we look ahead!
Here’s to our future. And yours.
