They say practice makes perfect… but does it? And is striving for perfection really the ultimate goal?

Often we set specific goals: we want to quit smoking, we want to lose 20 pounds, we want to get a raise or start a new career, we want to finish school. This is good. Setting a specific goal gives us something to strive for and keeps our focus planted in the direction of our dreams.

But the danger lies is defining our success solely on the achievement of that goal. If we only view success in this way, we miss out on the journey itself and all the progress we make along the way.

Practice makes progress

Practice makes progress is a philosophy that helps us shift our perspective slightly from the destination to the journey. In doing so, we find we can celebrate the incremental wins we make as we move toward our goal.

This mantra could apply to any area of our lives that we are committed to transforming, but a specific example of this could be applied to losing weight. Instead of waiting to check off the box when we’ve lost a specific number from the scale, we can recognize milestones along the way. For instance, when we’ve completed one demanding workout in a stream of difficult workouts, run a 5k on our way to finishing a marathon, when we lose the first two pounds of the 20 we are aiming for, we can stop and take a moment to appreciate the progress we’ve made.

Focus on the progress

When we feel like we are failing or defeated, when our goals seem impossibly out of reach, focusing on the progress we are making will help us stay on the path that will ultimately lead us to the goal. It centers us and allows us to exercise compassion for ourselves. We keep trying and trying again and celebrating our wins, no matter how small.

Aim for progress, not perfection. We may find ourselves achieving our goals faster than we thought. And regardless of how quickly we arrive at the finish line, we can enjoy ourselves along the way.

Consider a life coach

If you need help setting goals for yourself and celebrating the progress you make along the way, consider the assistance of a life coach. Visit our Life Coach page to find a coach who will be the perfect fit for you.