The Myth of Vertical Progress: Building New Roads to Success
Introduction
Do you struggle with breaking bad habits or sticking to new ones? Perhaps you've experienced the frustration of starting a new routine, only to find yourself giving up after a few days or weeks. If this sounds familiar, you may have fallen for the myth of vertical progress.
What is the Myth of Vertical Progress?
In today's self-improvement culture, there is a prevailing idea that if we can just make it to a certain number of days, everything will fall into place. We fixate on milestones like 21 days, 30 days, or 90 days, believing that once we reach these benchmarks, our lives will magically change.
However, this way of viewing progress as a vertical climb is flawed. Progress is more like building a road than stacking blocks on top of each other. Each successful day is a step forward, strengthening the foundation of our new habits and lifestyles.
The Road to Change
Every habit, whether good or bad, is like a road leading us to a desired destination. Over time, we may realize that the road we've been traveling on is treacherous, inefficient, or no longer serving us. So, we consciously decide to construct a new road.
Building this new road takes effort and dedication. Each day, we add a new brick, clear away weeds, and make progress towards our goals. It's important to remember that choosing the old road for a day doesn't erase all the progress we've made on the new one. It simply means we need to consciously redirect ourselves back to the path we want to follow.
Relinquishing the Pressure of Vertical Progress
Let go of the pressure to reach arbitrary numbers or milestones. The key to lasting change is not in hitting a certain number of days, but in consistently making decisions that align with our desired outcome.
Remind yourself why you're building this new road and make the process as easy and efficient as possible. By doing so, the new road becomes the preferred route, while the old road fades away and becomes overgrown with weeds.
Conclusion
Breaking bad habits and establishing new ones is a journey, not a quick fix. Don't fall for the myth of vertical progress. Instead, focus on building new roads that lead to the life you want. Each day is an opportunity to strengthen the foundation of your new habits and make progress towards your goals.
Remember, it's not about reaching a specific milestone, but about developing new defaults and deep grooves that lead to lasting change. Embrace the process, stay committed, and enjoy the journey of self-improvement.
Disclaimer
This blog is not affiliated with the video or podcast mentioned in the transcript. The information presented here is based solely on the content of the transcript and is intended to provide general information and encouragement.
