Power of Compounding
When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow, it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it-but all that had gone before.
It is a personal growth blog. How come mathematics article showed up ?
Although Compounding is the buzzword of mathematics, accounting, It is the most efficient way of habit formation for personal growth. It is also very important to understand the power of compounding for growth in life both spiritually and career-wise.
How is compounding related to personal Growth?
Personal growth is not overnight growth. It requires a lot of small improvements, a lot of tweaks in habits, and also complete elimination of some bad habits. All those tiny improvements in our daily habits generate remarkable results.
What does compounding have to do with it ?
The most difficult task for any human being is to change their habit. Good habits are hard to form whereas bad habits are always easy. Eating Junk food and scrolling newsfeed is easy. Binge-watching of series is easy. Procrastination is easy.
These bad habits don’t do much for a small number of days. But in the long run, it will create extreme negative results. Whereas working out, reading books, learning new skills will not show any results on some number of days, months, or even years. But in the long run, it will create some remarkable results.
Why don’t we see progress in the days or two. Why do we have to wait for long ?
That is how it is. We expect to see the progress linearly but it never happens that way. Growth happens exponentially. Even nature processes are exponential.
For example, when you start heating ice, it does not melt until the temperature of 31 degrees. And suddenly when the temperature rises 1 degree. The ice starts melting. The 1-degree shift does not seem like much change but that is where the progress starts being noticeable.
The same is the case of habit formation and progress. The heating up to 31 degrees was not wasted but stored. And When the 1 degree is increased from that checkpoint(31 degrees) the progress starts showing up.
There is no such thing as an overnight success. People don’t notice the grinding of an individual and when the individual’s continuous efforts turn out into something. People call it luck, born-talent.
Show me a person who claims to be successful overnight and I will show you a dirty liar.
How can you say progress is exponential?
Have you heard of the term #100DaysOfCode? It is for software developers. As the name suggests, it is a challenge where you have to code for 100 days. I have seen people getting drastically improved only on day 53 or day 67. I always thought coding for 100 days regularly is such a small time because I use think progress has linear growth.
I never believed that the person just learning to code for 100 days could be able to land a job as a developer until I understood the power of compounding and exponents.
Your progress becomes noticeable after it reaches the checkpoint. Like in the case of Ice melting.
What If I don’t see progress?
Well, are you seeing right now? What is the harm in dedicating time for something worth it? I can’t assure success. But I assure you either you change your perspective or gain experience. And No wise man ever wished to have less experience or wisdom.
Where Can I start?
And No, you don’t have to get in the challenge of #100DaysOfCode. Just choose your niche which you love doing. And start learning about it.
You could say #XDaysOfWriting, #XDaysOfFitness. And yes days may vary in your case because the harder your goals the longer it will take to show progress. You just need to keep yourself moving.
Note: There will be days where you don’t feel to show up. For instance. If you have decided to work out for 45 minutes every day. And If you are not feeling like working out some particular day. Go and just raise your dumbells.
It cannot be more true that Motion creates Emotion.
Motion creates Emotion? Who now?
Yes, motion creates emotion. During the starting phase, it is easier to maintain the flow of doing something regularly. But there will be days you will start to feel bore doing that particular thing. May be due to boredom, or not seeing progress.
If you are feeling like not working out, get up, and just start raising dumbbells’. If you are feeling like not writing then just pick your pen and start writing with the aim of a few words. After sometimes you will gain momentum and start enjoying it.
Conclusion
It is very easy to start something because we are full of energy when starting anything. But continuing something is very difficult because of not seeing progress for a long time, or boredom. So you need to do only things which truly excites you.
The time you invest in learning a skill or your new business will not foster if you don’t like what you are doing. You should like what you do. or do what you like. Read about Purpose.
Important message
Compounding is a very powerful thing. Albert Einstein is reputed to have said “Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it earns it; he who doesn’t, pays it”
Be aware of your habits. Even tiny habits can make you or break you. Be aware of what you say to yourself. Be aware of the food you take. Be aware of your mental health. Be aware of your environment. Slowly and gradually you won’t notice but it will drastically change your life. Make sure that change happens for good.
Originally published at https://blog.anjalbinayak.com.np on October 17, 2020.
