When you zoom out you might realise that the days you do feel like giving up are less than 5% of the time (though in the moment, feel like 100%)

Peter Shepherd

Peter is writing about 100 days of swimming in the ocean. But the same applies to almost all repetitive actions – writing, diets, exercise, and so on.

It’s also applicable to change. Because all forms of change have their hard bits. The 5%. And as Peter points out, in those moments, the feeling of giving up, of it not being worth is overwhelming. Or as Peter’s second lesson states – ‘who cares anyway?’

We need to plan for the 5%, expect it. What are you going to do when you are in one of those moments? Plan for the 5% when you are experiencing the 95% otherwise you are in trouble.

One of the best plans is to not make it a solo effort. Find the others. Your tribe, community, accountability partners, or whatever you want to call it. People who care. They exist.

Find them, you’ll be glad you did.

Photo by Thomas Dils