Growth is Knot Always Easy to See

 I remember struggling to tie my shoes as a kid. My mom patiently attempted to teach me how to tie my shoes with a standard knot, and I struggled. I’m unsure if it was because I lacked the understanding of the concept or the digital dexterity to perform the task. Maybe it was a little of both. Either way, I was not able to accomplish this seemingly simple task. So, my mom, like many other parents, taught me the bunny ears method. I imagine I must have used that method for a few years. I remember feeling bad about my inability to tie my shoes successfully. I remember feeling embarrassed and frustrated. Very. 

 

The thing is, I don’t remember when I transitioned to tying my shoes with the standard knot. It wasn’t an epiphany. There wasn’t a marked moment where I could say, “Eureka, I did it.” Yet, somewhere along the way, I figured it out. Success crept up on me quietly. It’s interesting that I felt bad that I couldn’t tie my shoes but never celebrated the moment I could. That is often how growth works; we focus on our struggles but miss the quiet victories when they arrive.

 

We are hard on ourselves when we are trying to find success in our tasks. We focus intently on the inability to accomplish them or the struggles that surround them. Yet, when we continue to grind away at our challenges, we are often imperceptibly making progress. The progress may be so small we feel we are standing still. Many challenges we face when trying to grow personally or professionally happen, like the slow rise of a gentle hill. Once proficient, we settle into that new understanding without celebration or fanfare. 

 

We all yearn for success, but it is in our failures where we grow; in repeated attempts, we grow; in adjustments to our process, we grow; in changes in our understanding, we grow. Growth is not a great leap; it is often a tiny step, a slight pivot, but it is still growth. We must learn to celebrate that growth and continue challenging ourselves to grow further. You may not be where you want to be, but you are not where you were.

 

Your struggles will stick with you; failure has a way of leaving a mark. But success? Sometimes, it occurs over more extended periods, in small increments, and determining when you reached the desired achievement may be difficult. No aha. No fanfare. You just quietly found success. And one day, without even realizing it, you are easily tying your shoes.