How do you know you are feeling better?
By what yardstick do you measure health and wellbeing?
How do you know your situation is improving or not? What is progress?
Here are a few thoughts:
Noticing it is the breath that controls the form in taichi or yoga.
It counts as progress
Swimming for 45 minutes when you only planned on 30.
It counts as progress
Loving your spouse when you don’t like them.
It counts as progress
Sleeping restfully through the night.
It counts as progress
Noticing that you are in less of a hurry than others.
It counts as progress
Waking up part way into a morning exercise routine and realizing it is now automatic.
It counts as progress
Getting off the pain meds and still being able to tolerate the chronic back pain.
It counts as progress
Appreciating the sound of breeze in the golden morning leaves.
It counts as progress
Initiating something that moves you in the direction of your ambition.
It counts as progress
Recognizing you are full, even though there is food on your plate.
It counts as progress
Exercising daily with weights you could not previously lift.
It counts as progress
Finding the new habit you have been cultivating has now firmly rooted itself into your life.
It counts as progress
Stepping out from your habitual comfort.
It counts as progress
Daring yourself
It counts as progress
Knowing that failing and falling are necessary steps on the road.
It counts as progress
Being the first to admit you are wrong.
It counts as progress
Meaning it.
It counts as progress
Giving more than you take.
It counts as progress
Contributing.
It counts as progress
Making the time.
It counts as progress
Doing what you want, when the habit is to do as you should.
It counts as progress
Deciding the other person’s needs are equally valid.
It counts as progress
Buying quality.
It counts as progress
Allowing emptiness before jumping into the next phase of creation.
It counts as progress.