(Distinctions are subtleties of language that, when gotten, cause a shift in a belief, behavior, value or attitude.)

 

When you want to grow in some manner it’s useful to measure your progress so you can tell how you’re doing. Are you getting closer to what you want or further away? If closer, do more of the same. If further way, change something. Measuring relative to some standard lets you determine your progress and quickly make corrections.

What do you measure against? Anything which looks like what you want.

It’s when you let measuring turn into judging that the trouble starts. To judge yourself means that you decide some level of your self-worth by how the measuring goes. And that’s a problem because there is always something, or some place, or someone richer, smarter, taller, faster, prettier, smaller, nearer, younger, or older than you. You will always lose the comparison, if you make it a win/lose comparison.

“I’m not enough” is the lament of the person who judges their performance.

“I see what I need to do next” is the healthy attitude of the person who measures their progress.

 

Coaching Point: What are some useful measurement points you can find?

 

Copyright 2007 Steve Straus. All rights reserved.