Consistency & The Perfect Imperfect Action
Do not get stuck in the moment trying to fly that you forget that you can run, walk or crawl.
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If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; but by all means, keep moving. — Martin Luther King Jr.
If you are like me, you have probably heard that quote a million times and you now just roll your eyes or shrug every time someone uses it. You probably even did a few seconds ago as you started this newsletter. But indulge me 😊
The simple interpretation we often give to this quote is – Just keep moving, despite difficulties. Do not give up, no matter how tough it gets. But, how about we go a step further by contextualizing this quote to our plans and goals?
The Context…
Remember: Fly —> Run —> Walk —> Crawl —> …Keep moving.
Imagine you had planned at the beginning of the year to spend 2 hours daily at the gym – let’s say that’s you flying. But due to the hustle and bustle of daily life, as the year progresses, you are unable to make your 2-hour daily gym schedule. What do you do next? There is a strong tendency that you’d want to put that plan on hold and just not go to the gym anymore, at least for a while. Why? We are often stuck in an all-or-nothing mentality, seeing things as either all white or all black.
However, what if after recognizing that you were no longer able to fly (make the 2-hour daily schedule), you decided to run instead – spend 1 hour daily at the gym? And if you couldn’t run, perhaps walk – spend 30 minutes at the gym? And if you still couldn’t walk, could you crawl – spend 10 minutes at the gym every day?
After all, 10 minutes at the gym every day is much better than nothing at all. It might feel weird – spending only 10 minutes at the gym, but what you would really be doing is mastering the habit of showing up.
Likewise, imagine you planned to read 1 book every month, and that’s you flying. But, once again, life happens and you are unable to. As against putting that goal on hold or stopping altogether, how about you consider running – read 1 book every 2 months? And if you can’t run, how about walking – read 1 book once a quarter? And if you can’t walk, tried crawling? Read 1 book in 6 months? Ultimately, you would be better off having completed 2 books by the end of the year, as against not reading any book at all because you’re unable to meet your initial plan of 1 book a month.
The Why…
This contextualization, I believe, is important as you journey towards living your dreams. As Michelle Segar, Ph.D., puts it, it is about picking the perfect imperfect action that lets you do something instead of nothing, so that you stay consistent and you stand with your needs or goals. It is about choosing progress, no matter how small, over nothing at all.
Of course, along the way, should you become better able to move up from crawling to walking to running, etc., that’s perfectly fine. But:
Do not allow your inability to meet up with 100% of your goal or plan hold you back from even starting at all.
Do not get stuck in the moment trying to fly that you forget that you can run, you can walk, and you can crawl.
Because it’s okay to start small. It’s okay to start by crawling first. In fact, shouldn’t that be the natural order of things?
Going into H2 2022…
So, as we begin H2, how about we look at some of the plans and goals we had set at the beginning of the year and do some recalibration. Is there a dream or goal you’ve put on hold or been procrastinating on because you planned to start by flying or running? Is there a perfect imperfect action you can consider? What would crawling or walking look like for you concerning that goal? Perhaps start with that?
Come December 31, 2022, would you like to have not read at all, or would having read 2 books be a good start? Would you like to have not visited the gym at all or would having spent 2400 minutes at the gym be a good start? Would you like to have not… *insert yours*
The Conclusion…
Massive success doesn’t always require massive action. Often, what it requires is consistent action.
And by Consistency, we should recognize that:
So, it’s okay if what consistency looks like for you is different from what it looks like for another person. Don't compare your consistency with another's. Or your journey with another's. Don’t compare your 1st year with another’s 20th. It's your journey, it's your race. Find what works for you.
At the end of the day, it is better to have done less than nothing at all.
Go small, but don't stop. Go small and start. Go small, then progress.
So, as you move along this H2, remember: “If you can’t fly, run; if you can’t run, walk; if you can’t walk, crawl; but by all means, keep moving.”
You didn’t just roll your eyes, did you? 😊
Love and light always,
O’Seye
P.S. Check out Origins Africa Podcast, where I interview Africans in Africa who have made and are making their dreams come true. To catch regular updates so you do not miss any episode, check us out on Instagram and Twitter @OriginsAF.
I enjoyed this. Better little 'atomic' habits than nothing at all.
Thank you O'Seye
Nice one Seye.
Pls I need your number