The last several months I've been training for a triathlon (which is really fun by the way! If you have any tips or would like to join me let me know). In reading about swimming and running techniques I've been learning about the Principle of Gradual Progress. To steal from "Chi Running" by Danny Dreyer; "The Gradual Progress principle says that everything has to grow incrementally through its own developmental stages, from less to more or from smaller to larger. When a growth process happens gradually, each step forms a stable foundation for the next step."
In training (and in life) I often become frustrated with the lack of significant progress. It seems that I work and work but never get anywhere. Lately though I've noticed that sometimes there is progress, even though it's small. Today while swimming I realized that I could do an aspect of my swimming stroke with less focused concentration on what I was doing than usual. It took hours of drills and practice to get there, but somehow (without realizing it) the motion has become more natural and automatic. Each drill that I did laid the foundation for a smoother swimming stroke. Without realizing it, there was Gradual Progress. When I was focused on "swimming better" I became frustrated. When I focused on doing each drill properly and faithfully completing each lesson (no matter what the result would be) I became a better swimmer. I have a lot more work to do, but there is progress.
Now if only I could transfer this knowledge to the rest of my life! I need to remember that I probably won't see instant results from one positive choice. But it lays the foundation for growth. And ten (or a hundred) positive choices can add up. If I give up no growth will happen.
