“Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be.” – Khalil Gibran
Have you ever been stuck doing a particular activity for days, months, or even years, making incremental improvements along the way, but feeling like it just isn’t doing anything for you? We should always give our best efforts and try to make the most of anything that is in front of us, but sometimes, we need to know when to pivot and move on to something else. There is a difference between giving up on something before you truly give it a chance and giving up on something to advance toward another opportunity.
In the first scenario, you’re running away from something. You don’t want to face the difficulties that lie ahead if you continue down your current path. If this is what you’re doing, you will likely find yourself in the same boat with your new task/adventure. Because, here, you’ll always be looking for something “better.” But the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. And if the grass actually is greener, it’s because whoever is maintaining the grass over there is taking care of it. They’re watering the grass, fertilizing it, picking up the dog poop, etc. Your grass is dying because you stopped taking care of it – you stopped trying (or never started in the first place).
In the second scenario, you’re running to something. You’re excited for the possibilities that await by going all in on the new activity. You know that this activity will be just as difficult, maybe even more difficult at first, but you’re willing to put in the effort to “make the grass green.” In this scenario, you’ve already given everything you have to what you’ve been working on, so when you switch activities, there is no doubt in your mind that this is the right choice. This gives your mind a certain peacefulness and clarity, so your thoughts won’t be clouded by “what if’s” while trying to focus on the new activity. Instead, you can bring that same dedication and focus to the new activity.
In today’s world, changing tasks or activities is fun. Our attention spans seem lower than ever. But just remember to choose an activity that excites you! Not all movement is progress. Just because you’re moving doesn’t mean you’re getting closer to your desired destination. But only you get to decide which route you want to go to get there. And sometimes you can find better paths just by trying something new. Whatever path you end up choosing, stay on it for a while. Give it an honest shot at getting you to where you want to go. And in the end, if it looks like it won’t get you there, there will always be another path for you to choose.