Forward Progression, indeed. The concept is not unusual at all. Rather, it speaks to my current emotional state in a profound way.

I need - at the very least - to have the impression that I am making progress. Without this sensation, I feel like I am standing still. If I am standing still, then I am not only not going forward, I am getting passed up by all the other people around me who are still moving. To extend the driving metaphor (it is a metaphor, isn’t it?) - I have a very specific set of requirements when I am driving in heavy traffic. Like when I drive through LA and the traffic is moving at a snail’s pace. The key is to be moving faster than the cars in the next lane. It is more important than your actual speed. For me, it comes down to the fact that, given the same circumstances, I want to be making more progress than the next guy. So I tend to change lanes a lot.

In life, this deep-seeded philosophy of Forward Progression translates to a hatred of feeling stagnant. Avoiding that feeling requires having a clear Goal and a roadmap to achieve it, at all times. When I feel like I lack a goal, I feel frustrated, stressful, and unsatisfied. It seems like a simple process, but the process can be upended at by a number of things: 1) Having a Goal. Sometimes I just don’t know what I want. If I do know what I want, I then have to be wary of 2) Getting Sidetracked. To avoid this pratfall, focus and clarity are paramount. Also, it helps to turn off the TV. 3) Fear of Failure. Some goals are scary. I have found that simply not following through on my Roadmap can keep me from failing, just by not actually Trying. 4) Laziness. This is a tough one, since the idea of having a Goal is to keep you Focused and On the Task.

If and when these dangers can be avoided, finally, Forward Progression can be achieved. I have felt the sensation at various times in my life, including the not-so-distant past. Right now though, I feel like I am stuck in neutral.