The sum of small efforts can eventually lead to reaching your long-term goal.
Think back over a period of time, perhaps to a few months ago, and notice how change took place. Sometimes, we find that small efforts that didn’t seem to matter, then we notice they actually did matter. They cultivated gradual change or growth.
I know that for myself, as a blogger, one article or even a handful of articles didn’t feel like it carried much value, as far as growing a library of information. My long-term goal is that I aspire to write hundreds of articles to help people. – Maybe someday the number will be in the thousands, who knows?!
One day, I received an email that read, “CONGRATULATIONS! You’ve made 50 posts to Shannon Mick, MA, NCC, LPC!” “Wow!” I thought. I felt proud.
If I didn’t write and post consistently, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today. I can see now that my small efforts added up to success. And I will keep going.
Don’t give up just because you aren’t seeing the “end result” of your goal. Long-term goals are long-term, we often forget this. Celebrate your small accomplishments along the way, feel good about them. Actually, feel great about them! Live in the moment.
Ask yourself:
What week-to-week progress are you seeing? What month-to-month progress are you seeing? How about year-to-year? How do you stay motivated to keep after your long-term goal? How do you celebrate your smaller accomplishments?
Don’t stop there…
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
Robert Collier
Are you working on goals and habit change?
I highly recommend this book, Atomic Habits by James Clear. When we’re working on goals, we’re usually focused on the end product, and so we become discouraged very easily when it takes us a while to reach that goal. James Clear talks about looking at the process, the steps, towards our long-term goals and receiving reward from the short-term as we strive for our end product.
Here’s a link to about his book. Definitely scroll down on his website and watch the video on why habits are “compound interest” of self-improvement. It is so good.
https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
Here is a workbook designed to go along with the book. Workbook for James Clear’s Atomic Habits: The Step By Step Guide To Turn Your Goals Into Reality
Reach out to me if you’d like to work together on habit change. I provide telemental health services to Pennsylvania residents. I’d be happy to see how I can help.
Be well!
Read about 1% Better Habits and Goals and watch my YouTube video here.
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