Progress and Mistakes

Expectations Spark Frustrations

Frustration sparks when our performance doesn’t match our expectations. Unfortunately, our expectations often differ from the realities of learning.

The simplest, wrongest view of progress is the expectation of linearity. The belief that more time in -> better performance: 5 units of time always creating to 5 units of ability.

This model of progress is clearly wrong to anyone who’s ever been tired, stressed, or sore. Some practice is better than others. Some days you perform better than others. Expectations of noticeable, consistent improvement tempt frustration.

A better model of progress must account for day-to-day variability.

The improved model is ugly, but real. Select sessions precipitate great advances, others no change —and some sting with regressions.

In this model day-by-day performance means little. Progress is the game of improving our average.

Expect difficulties along the climb to greatness. Overcoming local maximas of skill will require many mistakes. If you expect perfection this time will suck.

To improve in the long term, you must be ok with performing worse for a time.

Work On Your Worsts

• It sucks, but do the things you are bad at
  • Being process oriented (I will practice this for 50 reps) is easier than results oriented (I will become great at x today)
• If stuck
  • Try noticing what you’re doing and how it feels rather than judging what you’re doing for a bit.
  • Get a video camera and use https://www.kinovea.org/ to do time-delayed video. With this setup you execute a skill and then it shows your execution on the screen 5 seconds later.

Necessary Mistakes

Mistakes are a sign you’re learning.
Make them and play on!

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P.S. I like Keith Johnstone’s take: