The Journey is the Goal

What is it to be a work in progress? Well, for a long time and even often times now, I approach a task or goal thinking that the end result has to be extraordinary. I compare myself to people who have been at it for a long time or are experts in the field. Rather than set out to carve out my own path and own vision of what this thing could be, I look to previous successes. Now, I am not saying it is not a good idea to have role models or goals towards which we push ourselves. I am merely suggesting that we all have to start somewhere and often that beginning place does not look anything like the final product and it is not pretty in the earlier stages of development.

Too often we focus on the end result, great athletes, beautiful bodies, prolific writers, perfect pitch, experienced colleagues, parents, you name it. We do not want to see “how the sausage is made” and when we struggle to achieve our goal we are riddled with self-doubt, negative self-talk, and feelings of isolation suggesting that we are the only ones experiencing these failures AND shaming ourselves in the process.

Examining our human condition and the tasks we undertake as works-in-progress demands that we acknowledge that we are not perfect, change and progress are a part of the process, and that it is not shameful but a privilege and opportunity to learn and grow. It is my hope that by sharing my own works-in-progress others might do the same and we will start to recognize and really believe that this is just part of the human condition. Even the most gifted humans start as works-in-progress and must practice, correct, and grow to leverage those gifts. What is your gift and how are you cultivating its growth and change through your work-in-progress practice?