Progress is happening, even if you can't see it yet!
For those of you who don’t know my current car saga, I’m about to share it with you. 😂😂😂
Five years ago, I bought a lemon of a car. Looking back, I probably knew when I bought it that it was a lemon, but I was in a tough situation as I had already sold my previous car, and felt stuck. I tried to do the best I could with the car. I made sure I was diligent with the maintenance and kept it in tiptop condition.
Unfortunately, there was nothing that was going to save that poor car.
If you know me, then, you know that I am loyal to a fault. Not always a bad thing, especially for those close to me. However, there are certain situations of my in my life where I should have let go much earlier than I did. This car is a perfect example.
With all other alternatives exhausted, I had to make the decision to let go of the old car and do one of my least favorite things in the world, go buy a car. Is anyone else with me on this? The process takes so long! I spent most of Friday and part of Saturday inside a dealership, not my idea of fun.
Making major purchases tends to give me a little bit of anxiety, I start to wonder if I'm making the right decision and think there is probably a better deal out there. Buyer's remorse sets in before the papers are signed. 😂 Is this just me?
Don’t get me wrong, I love my new to me car, but spending large sums of money is not my favorite thing.
Fortunately, this car buying experience felt a little bit different. In the past, I would bring my wingman along, either my dad or Dave to support me through the process. But this time I decided to do it on my own. Cue the anxiety.
I wouldn't have anyone there to bounce ideas off of or ask if I was making a good decision. It was all on me.
I know myself well enough to know I needed a plan so I could recognize the anxiety as it started to creep in. I wanted to make sure I didn't get lost in the emotion of the process and walk away with that horrible feeling in my gut that I made a bad decision.
I reminded myself that when I felt the anxiety start to rise in my chest I would pause and take a few moments to breathe. This was simple enough that I knew I could remember to do it and no one else would even know I was doing it.
I took the lessons that I learn daily in yoga, meditation, pranayama, and journaling, and applied them directly to my car buying experience. I used my breath to stay present and made mental notes when emotion or sensation began to creep up. When I started to feel overwhelmed I took a break and walked outside for a quick pause. I set the pace.
While the experience is still not my favorite, it was a whole heck of a lot better than it’s been in the past. I felt more present and clear headed, asked all the questions I wanted to, stopped the process when I felt I was being rushed, and made a decision that felt good in my body when I was done. I felt like I stayed grounded in logic instead of lost in emotion and I trusted myself to make a good decision.
And while stress and anxiety still made an appearance, they didn't run the show. It reminded me that all those years of doing the work, of showing up for myself even when I didn't want to, have very practical applications. So often, we wonder if what we do every day is making a difference because we can't always see our progress. But things are always happening under the surface.
It's like that Tanzanian proverb, “Little by little, a little becomes a lot.”
Progress is slow and steady, fueled by consistency, discipline, and perseverance. What you are doing daily really does matter. Those small steps taken everyday compound over time until a little becomes a lot.
So now I throw it back to you, what are you doing daily that is making a difference in your life? Are you able to see the progress you've made and how your efforts have compounded over time? I'd love to hear all about it if you're interested in sharing.