Making Progress

How do we make progress?

The formula may be:

Courage + Optimism + Reflection = Progress

I

Courage dares us to try. It is the initial spark for everything that follows. Courage opens up the world of possibilities.

But, courage is not enough. Courage needs optimism.

Optimism fuels our courage. Optimism will keep us moving forward when our courage suffers inevitable setbacks.

To move forward we must be courageous and believe we will find what we seek.

II

Courage and optimism have led us to:

• Fight for what we believe despite retaliation, ridicule, rejection, and even death;

• Explore beyond - new lands, ocean depths, and distant planets;

• Rise, again and again, after suffering pain, loss, and failure;

• Create and express our deepest feelings through art, music, film, poetry, dance;

• Change by starting a new life, a new business, a different type of work;

• Love vulnerably knowing it may open us up to hurt and disappointment;

• Believe and maintain faith absent proof;

• Push ourselves beyond what feels possible to develop life saving technologies and medicines, break arbitrary human-made barriers, and continuously strive for peace.

Courage is action oriented. It pushes us out of our caves to discover.

Optimism pulls us forward. It prevents us from running back into our caves at the first sign of trouble, and pulls us one step closer to what we seek.

In this way, courage and optimism work together to move us forward.

Which may be why, throughout history, when faced with dire circumstances, we are encouraged to abandon fear and find the courage to believe we will overcome.

III

Yet, progress demands something more of us. A quiet, subtle, sometimes invisible, but immensely powerful act.

See, courage and optimism could prove reckless. A little bit like jet fuel - more focused on speed than direction.

Reflection helps move us forward in the right direction.

When we create time and space to reflect on our mistakes, it helps close the gap between where we are and want to be. With reflection, speed takes a back seat. Reflection steadies our progress, one step forward in the right direction.

Reflection can reveal insights, a different perspective, or an unorthodox approach. It prevents us from repeating mistakes. Mistakes that can wear out our courage and optimism.

Courage, optimism and reflection make up the flywheel of progress. Each piece fuels the other. And, when one piece is missing, our progress comes to a full stop.

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“Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” - Eleanor Roosevelt

“Optimism is the fuel of progress, and without it people will grind to a halt. So you will often find it even when the odds are stacked against you and the facts don’t align.” - Morgan Housel

“Reflection, not experience, is the best teacher.” - John Maxwell

Question:

When you succeed, do you zoom out?

Do you reflect on where you are in your life and ask yourself,

“What would I need to learn next to get to where I would like to be?”