Some beats none
...is a saying that has stuck with me. The credit goes to author Jon Acuff, who I believe first coined it.
We often envision ideal scenarios when setting goals or building habits.
I will run 5km today
I will write the great Singapore novel
I will meditate for 30 minutes
I will help my company cut costs by 30 %
I will read 65 books this year
I don't know about you but the default reaction for a part of me tends to be disappointment when I don't achieve my goals fully. Because if I don't hit 100%, this perfectionist part wonders — what's the point?
Then I end up overwhelmed by the idea of setting goals, because why set yourself up for disappointment? This mindset becomes a limiter and I don't even get started on things.
But when I came across some beats none, something shifted for me.
Rather than see 100% as the mark of success, and not start on anything I'm uncertain of accomplishing, any % above 0 is already a win. Some movement, any movement towards the best version of myself is better than none.
When my aim is just to be a little better today than I was yesterday, things feel far from overwhelming. Where slow or little progress once felt disheartening, now it feels motivating.
Not everything needs to be a result of grit your teeth and go
This is not to say I've stumbled on a miracle drug. But what I will say is that more often that not, some really beats none.