Have you ever heard of the Deming Cycle (aka the PDCA Cycle or Plan-Do-Check-Act)? It’s a pretty fundamental model for what I do at my job ALLLLL the time, but in my personal life, it was pointed out to me, I am missing the reflective “Check” step. I’ve been so busy working on things, that I haven’t slowed down to take stock of where I’m at now.
I need to stop and reflect on all the stuff I’ve done and all the progress I’ve made and everything I’ve accomplished thus far, especially this year, as it has been exceptionally challenging and overwhelmingly busy.
I know that I have this demented notion that Everyone Else has “got it all together” and has everything working for them. I certainly hope I don’t give off that vibe that I’ve got it all figured out, either.
For example, unfucking my mental health took up a great deal of my focus and energy from April till just recently and to be totally honest, it’s still not where I’d like it to be. In giving it that focus, I thought I was being “kind” to myself by indulging in unhealthy food that soothed me in the short term. Whelp, I put on about 30lbs between April and October. Getting even half-assed “back on plan” this week I lost 2.4lbs.
It’s super hard to keep ALL the plates spinning all the time. Plates are going to fall. Plates are going to shatter. Sometimes we pick up the pieces or sweep them under the rug or I dunno, HIRE someone to clean up the mess. But the mess is the inevitable part.
My WW leader quoted Lincoln tonight: “I walk slowly, but never backwards.” Keep grinding, Warriors.