I’m in that season of life where I’m going through many small beginnings, hence I thought to write about it. My journey towards blogging itself is a small beginning at this point in my life. About small beginnings, I want to talk about times where I’ve not appreciated and valued small steps taken towards my goal. Perhaps I measured progress with movement or wasn’t able to measure how far or close I am towards meeting my goals; I’m not sure. I certainly didn’t value small steps, maybe because it was another small step, or just one small step and not a series of steps at once. Progress can happen even in the dark or even when you can’t see it taking place. When you plant a seed, way before there’s growth above the soil, something happens under the soil that leads to growth above the soil. I’ve learned that every step is another step closer to your goal.
Experiences in life have taught me to value progress, even if it’s small. They’ve also taught me not just to set goals but to set milestones to measure my goals. So I thought of writing 5 ways to appreciate small beginnings.
#1: Change your perspective.
Sometimes our understanding of progress is that only visible movement is progress. Understand this: not all seen movement is progress. An example of this is the cross trainer or the treadmill at the gym. You’re performing a movement but technically still in the same place. Movement is sometimes disguised and hidden. Another example is when a farmer places a seed in the ground; the growth that takes place is hidden under the soil before you see anything growing above.
Growth is sometimes hidden.
#2: Value its potential worth.
Someone once wrote that great things come from small beginnings. Everything in life is a process and takes time, just like a seed planted; over time, with the right nourishment, it would produce a tree with fruit as well as shade for humans on the ground and birds in the air. As cliche as it sounds, remain consistent with the work, value that you have, and trust the process.
Potential is only achieved when consistency is consistent.
#3: Believe in the small.
Small doesn’t equal less worth. Just because something’s small doesn’t mean it has less value. We sometimes have the tendency to equate bigger things in life with a higher value. But remember, it’s the small beginnings today that turn into big achievements tomorrow. Learning to be appreciative of the small beginnings keeps things in perspective and reminds us where we’ve come from. It gives us perspective that you’re not where you used to be but also not where you want to be. Treat small, humble beginnings as special because of the courage that led you to start it in the first place.
It’s important to believe in your mission because if you don’t, then no one around you will.
#4: Stop comparing.
Comparing something kills the special feeling that you once had about someone or something. Someone once said, “We tend to compare our beginnings with someone else’s peak and usually get discouraged and disappointed.” Comparing yourself with others will either make you feel superior about yourself or will make you feel inferior about yourself, and both are bad attitudes. This is easier said than done, but focus on how you can improve yourself every day and fall in love with the process more than the outcome.
It’s the process that makes you into who you are, not the outcome.
#5: Your beginnings are yours.
Your small beginnings can only be protected by you. Know that you are the only person who is in charge of your beginnings, whether in life, businesses, education, work, etc. So continue to have a growth mindset and attitude of taking ownership and responsibility of your actions, protecting what belongs to you, and valuing what you have today.
Value what you have today, for you might not be able to cherish its value tomorrow.
sinaichronicles.com 