Perceived lack of progression in any area of life can feel pretty disheartening. When we hit those moments where it feels like we’re stuck or moving backward, it’s easy to question whether we’re making any real progress at all.
But here’s the thing… progress is never really linear. It’s two steps forward, three steps back, and then another step forward before you fall flat on your ass and repeat the cycle.
When I find myself feeling like I’m not making positive change, I try to remind myself that progression is a lot like hiking.
Imagine this: you start your hike by finding the trailhead and making your way up the mountain. At first, it’s tough. The climb is confronting, challenging, and a bit exhausting, but equally rewarding because you're getting stuck in, putting in the effort, and seeing the terrain rise beneath your feet.
This is much like the beginning of any new venture — whether it’s a new project, a fitness journey, or a shift in mindset. It’s hard at first, but once you get going, the progress becomes obvious. You start to see and feel the results of your hard work.
But then, after a while, you reach the saddle — a flat, seemingly uneventful stretch of terrain. Suddenly, the path isn’t as clear. There’s no obvious trail or signpost, and you find yourself questioning if you’re still heading in the right direction.
This is what I like to call a “perceived plateau” in progression. It’s that feeling of standing still, like nothing is changing or moving forward.
And just when you think you’re starting to make headway again, the trail leads you downhill, winding around a massive bluff that stands between you and the summit.
This feels like a step backward, but in reality, it’s all part of the process.
As you improve, you challenge yourself more, and with greater challenge comes more obstacles. It’s frustrating, but this is the moment when you need to remind yourself that sometimes you have to go backwards before you can move forward.
My point is, you can’t expect a smooth, uninterrupted path to success.
Whether it’s in your mahi, sport, therapy, relationships, or health, there will always be plateaus and setbacks. They’re part of the journey, part of the process of growth and improvement.
The trick is to embrace them rather than resist them, knowing that these moments don’t mean failure, they mean progress in the making.
So, the next time you feel like you’re not getting anywhere, remember that the journey isn’t always about moving in a straight line. It’s about embracing the ups and downs, knowing that every step — even the ones that feel like setbacks — is part of your progression towards something greater.
