I think that I am starting to realize that progress is cyclical and not a linear progression. It is not a series of ups and downs either, up one day and down the next. Rather progress follows a repeated pattern that as you get older you can look back at your life and see the clear pattern.
It seems that every time that I have experienced suffering, I am reaching the tail end of one of the cycles. Next up is an out pouring of success, followed by a period of adaption, and a series of stabilization moves then a slow and then rapid decline with a measure of suffering involved. Then the pattern repeats. It used to be that I tried to artificially accelerate this process by manufacturing some manic jump to the next level, but I would discover that I was completely unprepared and come collapsing down. Only when I realized that I had to allow the natural cycle to continue did I start to become more comfortable and accepting of what was happening.
So as I struggle this last few weeks, I suddenly realized that this is just the normal part of the cycle. It is not just me, but other people, even other organizations that go through the same process through progressing. In essence, if you are going to progress and take the next leap ahead you are going to experience a season of suffering.
Guy Reams
