The joy of making progress

Long Overdue Goal

I've been putting off this goal for years. Recently, I decided to listen to my heart and finally start the journey to learn to swim. The process of facing my fears and setting goals has been both challenging and encouraging.

Goals Keep Resurfacing

I’ve always wanted to learn how to swim, but for years I kept running away from it. I made every excuse imaginable: not enough money, not enough time, it's too late, and, of course, the fear of drowning. However, when you truly want to do something, it keeps popping up in your mind until you take action. Learning to swim kept resurfacing in my heart. In March 2023, I finally decided to enroll at LA Fitness and start my swimming journey—and it turned out to be a great decision.

The Journey Begins

I started going to LA Fitness regularly, swimming at least three times a week. I also watched countless YouTube videos on swimming techniques. One series that really helped me was Everyone Can Swim  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgB8w_Fgrvc&list=PLtsHor-YCc9pEWUusB4YIon-MOWmIANuZ . It gave me practical tips and the confidence to keep going.

By consistently showing up, I began to see progress. First, I learned how to float on my front, and then on my back. Floating on my back was terrifying at first. The thought of lying on water made me anxious, but after 2-3 months, I could swim on my back. It was an exciting milestone. Although I haven’t fully mastered swimming on my front yet and I'm still learning to breathe properly, I can see progress. That’s what excites me and what I want to share with you.

Two Lessons from My Swimming Journey

1. Making Progress on Your Goals Brings Happiness
2. You Can't Experience This Joy Unless You Start

Making Progress Brings Joy

There is no better feeling than seeing progress on a goal you've set. Whether it’s learning to play your first song on the piano, riding a bike without training wheels, or getting your first customer in a business, progress brings joy. When I finally swam on my back, I was thrilled. I even recorded a video and sent it to my family. I was jumping with joy! For an experienced swimmer, this might be nothing, but for me, it was a huge achievement. Progress, no matter how small, is a source of happiness.

If you want to experience joy like I did, go after your dreams and start making progress. Stop putting them off. Even the smallest step will bring a smile to your face, and that joy will be one of the best feelings you’ve ever experienced.

You Can't Experience Progress Without Starting

To reach your goals, you first have to start. As the saying goes, "You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." — Zig Ziglar.

We often miss out on progress simply because we’re too afraid to start. The key is just to begin. Sometimes, we get overwhelmed thinking about all the steps we need to take to achieve our dreams. But really, all we need to do is start, make small steps, and enjoy the journey. Focus on today and take it one step at a time. Thinking too far ahead can paralyze us, and as a result, we accomplish nothing.

Fear is Why Many Don’t Start

Fear is another reason people hesitate to pursue their goals. I remember my first day of swimming lessons. I walked into the pool area, and what I saw almost made me leave. The place was packed with parents watching their kids swim, and the kids looked like Olympians. Some were swimming the butterfly stroke, others were doing breaststrokes on their backs. I was intimidated and wanted to run. I imagined everyone staring at me, laughing because I was an adult who didn’t know how to swim.

But then I realized it was all in my head. No one was paying attention to me; they were all minding their own business. Whether I learned to swim or not was irrelevant to them. That realization stopped me from walking out that day. So, whatever your dream is, don’t let fear hold you back. You’ll find that most of the things you’re afraid of don’t even matter in the grand scheme of things.

Conclusion

Starting my swimming journey taught me that joy is a natural byproduct of pursuing your dreams and making progress. But you can only experience that joy if you take the first step. So, don’t wait any longer. Whatever your goals and dreams are, go after them. Start, make progress, and experience the joy that comes with it.