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SHI need to call myself out here… I used to believe wholeheartedly in “progress over perfection.” But that almost made me quit.
When I hit a period where I didn’t make any progress at all, if I’d listened to that advice, I would’ve given up.
That’s when I learned that it isn’t just about moving the needle each day.
Sometimes, it’s about the process itself… the simple act of showing up, especially when you don’t feel like it.
Neuroscience backs it up.
Studies on habit formation show that repeating a behavior, even before results appear, wires new neural pathways. Your brain is literally reshaping itself to make “showing up” easier next time. In fact, pushing through the resistance is often what activates BDNF (Brain-derived neurotrophic factors), proteins that sprout new neurons.
Also, research on dopamine tells us that our brain rewards us when we anticipate a win. Early on, there’s no win to anticipate, so motivation dips. But if you keep showing up, your brain starts to associate the cue (your scheduled time) with a sense of routine, not just the end goal.
So, in the beginning, progress might look like zero.
That’s okay.
Because right now you’re reshaping your brain, bolstering self-control, and building the muscle of consistency.
Stick with showing up a little longer.
It’s often the hardest part, yet it’s what makes everything else possible.
What’s your take on “progress over perfection?” Do you think “process” is more important initially?
@shadezahrai
