You cannot do something once and expect lasting results. To make progress, you need habits. And to build habits, you need discipline.
https://twitter.com/TheWellnessWar3/status/1183045946902503424
Small changes can build into remarkable results if you stick with them for years. We tend to overestimate one big moment and underestimate the value of improving a little every day.
That is where the valley of disappointment comes in.
I just finished James Clear’s book Atomic Habits. It helped me see how the valley of disappointment appears in many parts of life, whether in relationships, business, or health:
We often expect progress to be linear. At the very least, we hope it will come quickly. In reality, the results of our efforts are often delayed. It is not until months or years later that we realize the true value of the previous work we have done. This can result in a “valley of disappointment” where people feel discouraged after putting in weeks or months of hard work without experiencing any results. However, this work was not wasted. It was simply being stored. It is not until much later that the full value of previous efforts is revealed.
Many people start a new habit, see no quick results, and stop. They lose sight of the long term and find it hard to stay disciplined.
https://twitter.com/gijsheerkens/status/1342037544373014529
I am in several valleys of disappointment right now. Oddly enough, I am comfortable here: I have long-term plans and believe I am on the right track.
The power of compounding
Compounding is not just for money. If you keep up a habit and make steady progress, you may eventually emerge from the valley of disappointment with results you never expected.
https://twitter.com/EdLatimore/status/1185010680493170690
I like this idea because it applies to so many parts of life. The effect is easy to miss until you look back. Here are a few examples:
- Friendships: Meeting someone a few times will not make you close friends. Over time, repeated interactions can build a strong friendship.
- Investing: Buying index funds today will not make you a millionaire tomorrow. Over time, returns can compound.
- Health: Eating well today will not make you lean tomorrow. Over time, healthier choices can add up.
- Fitness: Lifting weights a few times will not make you muscular tomorrow. Over time, gradual increases in training can add up.
- Social media: Leaving social media for a week may not break a habit. Over time, the hours you reclaim can add up.
- Coffee: Cutting out caffeine today may not make you feel less stressed tomorrow. Give your body time to adjust.
- Sleep: One long night of sleep will not undo months of fatigue. Consistent rest matters more.
- Languages: One lesson a day will not make you fluent tomorrow. Over time, your vocabulary grows.
- SEO: Writing one article will not put you at the top of Google. A growing body of useful content can improve your visibility over time.
- Expenses: Tracking your spending for a month will not transform your savings. Over time, the changes it helps you make can add up.
- Alcohol: A week without alcohol may not make you feel better immediately. Longer-term changes may make a difference.
- Email: Checking email less often may not free up much time in a single day. Over time, the minutes add up.
- Learning: Reading one book will not make you an expert. Keep learning, and your knowledge grows.
- Coding: Building one web page will not make you a skilled coder. Each project teaches you something.
- Meditation: Meditating a few times may not make you feel peaceful. Consistent practice can have a gradual effect.
https://twitter.com/Matt_S_Stephens/status/1185645025138544640
Build habits
To start building habits, you need discipline and a long-term view.
Make good habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. Make bad habits less visible, less appealing, harder, and less rewarding.
https://twitter.com/JamesClear/status/952316052599427072
Remember: never give up.