My Spanish language adult students should have learned this wise quote. Once a week they came to my two-hour evening class. Almost 100% of them had not opened their Spanish book for seven days.
The result? Invariably the same. They forgot most of what they had learned. Five steps forward, four steps back. Progress was minimal, many got fed up and left the class. Very few persevered to the end.
However, there was a tiny minority that did study between the weekly classes. For them it was five steps forward, and then another three steps forward.
Do the Math.
Those who studied once a week made five steps forward minus four steps backwards. Equals one step forward.
Those who studied in between classes made five steps forward plus another three steps forward. Equals eight steps forward!
That’s the awesome power of dedicated practice. These students were already winning eight to one after only one week.
I’m reminded of a famous quote I heard years ago. It went something like this:
“If you study something for just 15 minutes every single day, in five years you’ll be quoted as an expert.”
So easy to give up, isn’t it?
“Can’t be bothered”
“I’ve got bored with it.”
“I’ve found something much more interesting.”
On and on, the lame excuses. We’ve all learned about the power of perseverance. We just need to ask ourselves why we fail to persevere.
It’s easy to make excuses. Blot out our conscience. Pretend it doesn’t really matter. That’s fine, if you want to stay the same, and never make much progress. Give up when so much more is possible.
How lazy are you? What are your excuses? Maybe you just need a little more humility to fess up, get over it, and then move on to achieve some of your goals.
No need to kill yourself trying. Just persevere. Little and often. Baby steps. Bit by bit. Say it any way you like, it’s the same strategy: “inch by inch it’s a cinch.”
I am reminded of the story character, who claimed he could jump to the top of a castle. Everyone thought he was crazy.
But he told them,
“It’s so easy. Find the steps, and then jump up them, one step at a time.”
You don’t have to do it all in one giant jump!
As Ann Voskamp’s quote reminds us, practice makes perfect. It can even bring about something huge in the long run: transformation.
So, ask yourself: what are my goals? How much do I want them?
Then take action. How? No problem; you already know perfectly well what to do.
Perhaps you will actually do it this time! I really hope so.
Gerry McCann
@themerry_monk
Do you procrastinate? Has it cost you? Leave a comment below. Thank you.
Dear am touched to do the work with you in Jesus name
I hope this 2020 you will come to be Ablessing to our land of apostolic Church and you can help us to build the church