Progress is messy, unpredictable, and sometimes feels like you’re running in place. Progress is not perfect, it needs to be intentional. The Four P’s of Progress—Purpose, Plan, Patience, and Practice—can help you navigate through the chaos and move forward, step by step.
Purpose: the Why behind it all
Let me tell you about a time I felt completely lost. I kept asking myself: Why am I even doing this? How did I arrive to this situation? What is my goal in life? It was during this phase that I learned how important purpose is.
Purpose doesn’t have to be epic. Either about finding some grand calling. It’s the silent recognition of what truly matters to you. For me, it was realizing that sharing positivity, a hand, smiles and a way to see things differently with others gave my life a meaning. That became my anchor on the tough days.. Be the reason someone smiles today.
Reflect on the following:
What gets you out of bed in the morning?
What kind of impact do you want to make?
How can you take action:
Write down your purpose in one sentence, no filters. Something as simple as “I want to be healthier so I can show up for my family” works. Write several lines, you can reshape it later. Purpose is personal and it has to work for you.
Plan: one step at a time
When I first started working on my goals, I wanted to tackle everything at once. I wanted to run before learning how to walk. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t work. What to do? Realizing that plans don’t have to be perfect—they are your ultimate goal you walk towards to.
For me, that meant breaking my goals into smaller, daily tasks that I could stick to. I still remember at the beginning of my carrer my former manager from Paris giving me advice on making a smaller yet achievable to do list in order to avoid frustration.
Start Planning:
Instead of creating a massive to-do list, focus on one thing you can do today. Not tomorrow, not next week, TODAY.
How can you take action:
When goals feel overwhelming, simplify it. For example, if you want to work out, don’t commit to an hour at the gym. Start with a 10-minute walk around your block.
Patience: trusting the process
Let’s be real, I am now preaching for patience while I hate to wait. When you’re putting in the work and not seeing results, it’s tempting to think: What’s the point? Progress is like planting a seed. You water it, nurture it, and… nothing. But one day, it sprouts.
Patience is about trusting and believing it will come. Trusting that the small things you’re doing now will eventually lead to the growth.
Reflect on the following:
There was a phase in my life where I felt like I wasn’t moving fast enough, like everyone else was miles ahead me. But when I looked back at where I started, I realized how far I’d come. That’s the thing about progress, it’s often invisible until you zoom out. Don't compare as well your progress to others, it's personal.
How can you take action:
Every week, write down one small win. Maybe you stick to your plan for three days, or you spoke kindly to yourself when you usually wouldn’t. These wins matter too.
Practice: the power of showing up
Progress is also closely link to taking action.. When I first started working out, I was tired, I wanted to give up. But I kept going. Over time, it got easier. I started seeing results, not because I was doing great, but because I was consistent.
Start practicing:
Small, consistent actions turn into habits, and habits fuel momentum. It won't shine, it’s not glamorous, it’s real.
How can you take action:
Pick one activity that aligns with your goal. Maybe it’s journaling for five minutes every morning or dedicating one hour a week to something that sparks joy. Consistency, not perfection, is what drives progress.
Now, I always say there a multiple ressources we can find on the internet on how to change our lives. You don’t need to follow exactly what others or even myself am telling here. Take what works for you. But don't forget, the most important is just start. Right here. Right now.
LET'S DO THIS!!!🌻