One Percent

It’s the beginning of a new month. We are more than halfway through this year. As I was on my walk this morning, I thought, “What have I accomplished, and how have I changed this year?” It gave me pause and reminded me of something I recently read. If you improve by 1% every day, within a year, you will have improved by 365%. Let that sink in a minute…

For the most part, I believe we all want to improve, in some way or aspect of our lives. Often, it’s centered around our health or appearance. While I fit into this category as well, hence the morning walk, I realized how exponentially that one percent could grow into a whole body transformation. And I’m not just referring to physical appearance.

Our kids started “school” last week. Because this looks much different than any other year, I picked up a devotional journal called “100 Days of Grace & Gratitude” by Shanna Noel. I knew I needed to take on the posture of grace and gratitude if I also wanted our kiddos to model it. The devotional read is maybe a couple minutes long, at best. There are scripture references as well, and I usually will find one that resonates. My journaling doesn’t always look the same, but since it’s my journal, the only “rules” that apply are my own. The entire “process” takes about five minutes, ten if I’m extremely creative in my journaling. Today was day seven of one hundred. Thinking back to the one percent notion, I’ve already improved sevenfold. I’ve positioned myself to incorporate, or at minimum meditate on, grace and gratitude seven times through this book, and I do believe it’s beginning to take root.

This emerging habit prompted me to put on a pair of tennis shoes and head outside for some exercise. The fresh air gave me the opportunity to clear my mind. With each recurring step, I felt my muscles engage. I released the competitive desire to maintain a minimum speed, focusing on consistent movement instead. By the end, I walked just shy of two and half miles, which was significantly farther than I originally thought I’d be able to comfortably go. I spent my time praying, praising, and mentally preparing myself for the rest of the day. In doing so, the distance didn’t seem nearly as long. I was grateful instead of spent.

Tomorrow, is day eight. I plan to make the five to ten minute investment in grace and gratitude again, knowing that it’s effects will be longer lasting. I plan to lace up my shoes and take another walk. I’m also thinking about what other “system” I might incorporate to improve how efficiently I manage our home. While normally this thought might feel overwhelming, I’m thinking differently. One small step. One percent.

I don’t know about you, but I like this one percent notion. Seems infinitely more “doable,” doesn’t it? And as I build upon this one percent, I am thankful for the grace it affords. I’m not trying to conquer climbing my mountain in a day, just one percent of it. Tomorrow, I can continue onto the next percent. Doable. One step at a time.

“But each one of us has received a gift of grace, just as Christ wanted us to have it.”

Ephesians 4:7 NIRV

I’ve begun unwrapping His gift of grace, one fold at a time. And with each revelation, another awaits. Unlimited in His generosity. Goodness. Because that’s His nature. For which, I am incredibly grateful.