The Time In Between

“We learn by practice. Whether it is to write or to read, to run or to fight, practice is what teaches us.” — Epictetus

The Obstacle

We go from well to sick and back to well.
From young to old.
Try new things.
Learn skills.
We seek to be better partners, parents, and citizens.

In all of that, there is a time in between.
Between planning and mastering.
Depending on the endeavor, that time can be very long.

The time in between is where the struggle takes place.
Frustration.
Irritation.
Setbacks.

It is the time of learning, practicing, mastering.

It is in this time that we become who we are.

The Gift and Opportunity

We procrastinate and avoid it.
Restlessly moving from one thing to the next.
So we don’t have to face what we need to do.
What we have to do.
What we say we MOST want to do…

We know that when we start off, we’ll be terrible.
We know there is pain ahead.
Possibly failure.

And we also know the only way to get better is to keep going.
To go through it.

We know this as leaders.
As parents.
As adults.

The time in between is a place that can be uncomfortable.
Full of frustration, irritation, and annoyance.
A place we want to rush through to get to the other side.

It is also a time of conquering.
Forging.
Practicing.

A place where we build knowledge and skill.
Where we stack success.

It as the place where masters are made.

No one jumps from white belt to black belt with a single kick.
It takes years of dedication and steady practice.

So does mastery of anything worthy.

Embrace the process.
The journey.
The time in between.

The Practice of Self-Mastery

• Notice when avoidance shows up and name it without judgment.

• Just get started.

• Focus on the next small, repeatable action, not the finished result.

• Measure progress by consistency, not by speed or mood.

  CHEAT CODE: START —>SUCK—>KEEP GOING—>GET BETTER