Consistency over improvement | Psychology Today

I ran my first half marathon when I was 27 years old. My pace was just over twelve minutes per mile, and I was among the last runners, but I didn’t care. You’ve completed a 13.1 mile walk! I felt like a rock star. Thirty years (and many, many races of different lengths) later, this past May, I ran a half marathon that I participate in every year. Finish time was 1:38. My pace? 12:06/mile. I didn’t get any faster. But do you know what? I haven’t gotten any slower either.

I like to joke that if I keep this up, maybe when I’m 80, I’ll qualify for the Boston Marathon (BTW, the qualifying time for people over 80 is 5 hours and 20 minutes, so it’s a real possibility). Slow, steady, and stubborn – that’s me.

Here’s the thing: Life, like marathons, isn’t always about speeding up, getting better, or winning. It’s about showing up, staying present and enjoying the ride – even if you’re at the back of the group talking to other slow people and enjoying the scenery.

Improvement is celebrated in our culture. We want more – faster, richer, smarter. Don’t get me wrong; I am a huge fan of excellence in many areas of my life. But I also think it’s okay to like something you’re not really good at.

I love running. And I love dancing. And I’m not particularly good at any of these activities. But if I can keep them and continue to enjoy them without injuries, I will consider it a win.

Many things in life—creative endeavors, hobbies, self-care routines—all benefit from consistency whether we are “better” or not (however we measure “better”). But unfortunately, I have met people who gave up on the things they truly loved because they did not achieve excellence. I have a client in my country Training He is now practicing someone who gave up a job he loved because it was “below” his level of education and vision of what a professional of his stature should do. This broke my heart. He’s not happy with the new job, which carries a fancy title, however boring Job title.

Is there something you feel pressured to improve even though you’re happy with it the way it is? If so, here’s my reminder from the back of the package: You don’t have to get better for this thing you love to matter to you, to be worth your time and commitment. You just have to keep going. Keep showing up. Keep enjoying the ride. Because joy – whether it comes slowly or quickly – is what matters. And sometimes, the back of the bag is exactly where you want to be, because there is time to enjoy the moment.