Expect Progress Not Miracles

[cs_section style=”margin: 0px; padding: 45px 0px; “][cs_row style=”margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; ” inner_container=”true”][cs_column style=”padding: 0px; ” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″][cs_text]”It’s so easy.” This was a phrase an outside consultant repeated over and over to us during training at work. He was teaching us how to use a new program and with every new topic or question he would start with that phrase, “It’s so easy.” Yet no matter how many times he would repeat that phrase it was not always so easy. The program we were learning is simple on the surface but complex underneath. The process was more of a progress than a miracle of “it’s so easy.” Life is no different, it is more progression than the instantaneous.

I know we do not like to hear it but we should expect progress more often than miracles. Most of us will not wake up one day and have whatever we have been striving for be there, completed and ready to go. Rather, it is a series of hard work, trial and errors, a constant moving forward. At times it may seem like the moving is slow, even to the point of falling backwards. Sometimes it is this way. But whether slow or fast it is a matter of relying on steady progress not instant miracles.

This is not to say that I do not believe in the miraculous, I absolutely do. But we should rely on miracles when that is the only possible way, not simply because we are lazy and yearn for the “it’s so easy.” Unfortunately laziness is a common human condition. This is something many companies take advantage of, and in the process take advantage of us. They tell us “go on this show and you will become instantly famous.” “Take this pill and you will miraculously lose weight.” “Buy this car, this house, these clothes and you will automatically have the greatest life.” All of that is nonsense, a lie from the pit of hades, and something you will never hear me say.

While companies feed us these lies we also are drawn to them, even looking for them. They may feed the addiction to laziness with their products and flashy advertising but we also love that addition. We are the ones who line up to audition for the reality shows, take the diet pills, buy the cars, houses and clothes. We, in our idleness, look to miraculously have the good life without every having worked toward it. We look for miracles, not progress. This is not good.

There is great news, though. We may be lazy but it is ours. It is ours to nurture, to feed and grow into a big, ugly nuisance or to throw away, casting off that weight daily. It is ours to believe the nonsensical “It’s so easy” or to know the not very pretty but true and lasting “It takes time and hard work.” This is something that we have to decide for ourselves. We can be influenced by those around us but ultimately it is up to us, as individuals, to believe the easy lie or the hard but rewarding truth – life is more progress than miracles.

When you are out there, trying to figure out what to do and how to pursue your passions do not go after the easy because it is easy. Do not expect instant results to your pursuits. If they come quickly, great, I am all for that, but if they take a while do not give up. Pursuing passions is a process, pursuing your better self is an unfolding endeavor. Shake off the lie of “it’s so easy” and embrace the awesomeness of the process. The road to your pursuits and passions is not always short but continue walking it, step by step. In doing so you will eventually get there and looking back you will see the progress you have made and be thankful. When things get tough just keep moving forward, expecting progress not miracles.

Attempt it. Chance it. Try it. Get to It![/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section]


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