What Are You Tracking?

What are you tracking these days? During my recent (long) recovery from breaking my upper arm, I’ve learned something that seems to be useful in all of life. Yay! That is the power of noticing incremental progress. The nature of recovery initially looks like learning how to live with pain and waiting for things to “get back to normal.” Now I realize that isn’t available! And wasn’t even when I was young.

A sudden injury, loss, or political change impacts us deeply, and there is a pull to look at what’s wrong. At least in my case, there is a leaning toward working hard to overcome whatever is impacting me. However, during this last recovery period, my progress seemed too slow to measure. Until I realized I was not noticing the incremental progress, which made it seem like there was no progress at all.

Shifting Moods Begin with What We Notice

I’ve known for years that what I focus on I get more of. (If a friend buys a bright yellow car, you suddenly see bright yellow cars everywhere. And could swear there were none prior to him buying that car.) The new insight came when I started to notice small improvements. Suddenly, I no longer saw no improvement. My focus had shifted that quickly. And that new focus keeps me in the recovery game, doing daily things to support my body moving toward balance again.

The same holds true… well, everywhere.

When I walk in the morning with the dogs, if I am looking for the most efficient walk, my experience is one of rushing and stress. If I head out the door and immediately notice that one of my sweet girls “kisses” the new Buddha right outside the front door. Or that the old pomegranate trees are reaching down toward the new ones, as though whispering the secrets they have to offer. I notice the visitors to the fountain and am thankful that most of the road construction has stopped and the neighborhood is quiet again. When I get home, I feel filled up and refreshed from the walk, and I am grateful.

What Are You Tracking Every Day?

So, what are you measuring? Is it how much more you do than they do? The chaos coming from our government? How annoying drivers are on the freeway?

Try catching yourself measuring what you really don’t want more of. Then look to see what is getting better. There are many people now sharing stories of people making things better.

Hidden Brain has a segment each week called My Unsung Hero. (Who is your Unsung Hero????)

A dear friend just wrote a book about Holy Encounters. (Who have you met that changed you into a better person for having met them???)

My husband’s new YouTube subject is people rescuing animals. (Who is supporting those who need help in your area???)

Suddenly you might begin to notice that your stress level has diminished, and you feel alive and peaceful again. Try this, even if for a short period of time. And allow yourself to delight in tiny, incremental ways. I can even reach to put a hanger back in my closet now. I would have sworn that was unattainable several months ago.

If this article resonated with you, you may also enjoy The Power of Pausing/