PROGRESS: What does it mean to you, and how do you measure it?

 

Progress. What is it?

For most of us, progress means a job promotion,

Driving a bigger car, moving to a bigger house,

Residing in an exclusive neighborhood,

Being admitted to exclusive member clubs,

Taking our kids to exclusive private schools,

Going on exotic vacations,

Growing turnovers and profits

Being famous, powerful or influential...

And all other externalities.

 

But suppose we turned inward instead?

Suppose we saw progress as Seneca did?

Suppose we measured progress by what we are learning,

How we are growing and becoming better,

How we are healing old wounds and traumas,

The habits we've discarded and those we're developing,

The talents and strengths we are discovering and utilizing,

The reflections and insights we have arrived at,

The histories we unlearning and relearning,

The changes we’ve made towards living a healthier and more balanced life,

The friendlier and more open we've become,

The much we've moved in cultivating a generous spirit and an abundance mindset,

The leadership skills we are developing or getting challenged on,

The curiosities, wonder and questions that animate our lives,

The better we've come to love and accept ourselves and others

The deeper we've come into self-knowledge and self-awareness

How well we are taking care of ourselves,

The closer we've come into becoming good, wise, ethical

And empathic human beings?

 

In other words,

Suppose we shifted from measuring progress externally

To measuring it internally?

"What progress have I made?" Seneca posed to himself.

"I have begun to be a friend to myself." He answered.

 

Imagine what would happen to us, our relationships,

Our businesses, and the world, if we all begun to make progress

Into becoming better friends to ourselves?

 

Let’s do a little check-in, shall we?

How have you been, mainly, measuring progress in your life? 

Externally or internally?

Where do you place your most energies, focus and commitment?

On external/physical/visible increments, or internal/spiritual/intangible growth?  

Where and how can you make a shift today?

*Photo Credit: Brian Mann on Unsplash