Are you doing everything right in life but still feel like nothing is changing?
Self-improvement is often a jagged process. Growth isn’t linear – instead, it is often filled with many peaks, valleys, and plateaus.
Often when you start a new habit, you will notice some immediate benefits and then things will seem to slow down.
For example, after exercising for two weeks people often begin to look in the mirror and notice physical changes to their body, including being slimmer or more toned.
It can be really motivating to see those initial results, but then progress seems to slow down. After a month, you may begin to feel like you are just “maintaining” your current position and not moving forward anymore.
This is a natural part of the self-improvement process. Of course, we crave instant results, but a big part of self-improvement is cultivating patience and recognizing the larger process unfolding.
When growth seems to slow down – or even feels like it’s at a complete stagnation – it’s crucial to have the right perspective.
Just because you can’t detect any new growth doesn’t mean it isn’t happening below the surface –sometimes you need to give time for internal changes before external changes begin to manifest themselves.
One great metaphor for self-improvement is the transformation of the butterfly.
In the butterfly’s early life stages, the larva or caterpillar is feeding and growing – but before it can reach its final stage, it must go through a “cocoon phase.”
On the surface, a “cocoon phase” feels like nothing is happening. There are no detectable changes on the surface, everything is stagnate to the outside observer. You just must sit and wait.
Of course, change is still happening within the cocoon. A real transformation is taking place, but it takes time.
Day by day nothing seems to be happening, then one day the beautiful butterfly emerges, and the wait was all worth it.
Self-improvement can often work in the same way. We get into “cocoon phases” where not much change or growth seems to be happening, then there is a rapid spike of transformation.
We all go through phases of perceived “slow growth” or “no growth,” but it’s important to keep the complete picture in mind.
If you are doing the little things, taking care of your body and mind, cultivating healthy habits, and taking small steps every day, you have to trust the process and not become too concerned with immediate results.
If you have the right system in place – especially your daily routine – the results will always come in the long run.
Often growth happens either very slowly or very quickly.
During the slow phases of growth, the tiny things will gradually add up over long periods of time, then you reach those tipping points of rapid growth and transformation.
That’s when you break through those plateaus and reach the next level in the game of life, then the cycle repeats itself.
As the famous saying goes, “It takes 10 years to become an over-night success.”
To the outside observer, a person’s success can seem to come out of nowhere – but to the person who has been quietly grinding, they know they have dedicated many years of blood, sweat, and tears.
When a big opportunity finally comes knocking, they are there to seize it and take advantage of it, but their success story certainly didn’t start there.
Growth comes in cycles, so be patient with yourself during those slow times – something remarkable may be just around the corner waiting for you.
