“Sometimes you have to do the work even when you don’t feel like it. Sometimes, you have to put away your wants to do what needs to be done.”
Adorning the Dark
by Andrew Peterson
Much of Peterson’s book is his advice about succeeding as an author, and sometimes struggling to do work when we don’t want to. Here I am, working on this book when I might prefer to be doing something else. Why? It has to be done, or it won’t get done.
I met Peterson recently, and he talked about his efforts to paint watercolors. He said that he had a stack of them next to his desk. As he works, the pile grows, and if he feels like he’s not improving, he reviews some near the bottom of the pile; it shows him how much his skills have progressed. I don’t think I’ll ever forget that imagery. Sometimes we have to grind. Sometimes, we need to keep at it; in time, we’ll begin to see progress.
Ask Yourself
What have I been putting off that just needs to be done?
Do I have any measures to show progress in my long-term tasks? How do I know if I’m improving or progressing?
What can I get done right now? Today? This week?
Excerpt taken from Reflections on the Coaching Life Volume 2.