The reason you give up so easily. It's honestly so simple
I’ve learned some uniquely difficult things in the past year. From solo skydiving to another language, there is one thing that makes all the difference. I’ve boiled it down into one sentence I always keep with me.
Learning is not linear
Shocking, I know. Hear me out.
You, me, your uncle Bob, we have all given up on something in our past. Maybe you’re doing it right now. We give up on things because we think learning, growth, progress, whatever it is, goes in a straight line. We think we will receive the same amount of results as the effort you put in.
It should look like this right? Straight line. Effort and result in a 1:1 ratio.
Here’s the problem. Learning, growth, or whatever you are working on generally looks more like this.
There’s a snowball effect, you put a lot of effort and time into it early on, without many results, and then over time your efforts compound. Most people give up right before it begins snowballing. We compare ourselves to others who are farther ahead and get discouraged. You’re not the exception to the rule. For some people, it snowballs faster, depending on the skills you already have. The only person you should compare yourself to, is you, where you started.
When you are ready to give up, draw a graph like the one above. Draw an arrow right before it begins snowballing. Write “You’re here” on it. Then honestly look at whether you want to keep putting the effort in.
Learning is not linear. Growth is not linear. Relationships are definitely not linear. They often look more like this. :)
So stick with it.
I find the first time I do something, I'm often a lot better at it than I expect to be. And then every time after that, much worse. Call it beginner's luck (or maybe false consciousness). Pushing through when you go back to something the second time and discover that you're a mess at it is difficult, but this is a great reminder that none of it is a straightforward upward curve to the right. And those little loop-the-loops when you suddenly find you can do something you couldn't before are incredible. Inspiring to hear that you've learned many new things in a year! I'm trying to get back into a learning mindset after many years of drifting as a middle-aged parent. First stop: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes.
Such a good thing to remember that learning something new doesn't happen overnight...