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Writer's pictureJed Miller

Thursday Thoughts: One Missed Step Doesn’t End the Journey

Last week, I missed posting my usual Thursday Thoughts. I have a goal to write them each week, but I made the decision to attend my son’s choir concert instead. And I have to say, it was absolutely worth it. Seeing him up there singing, alongside the extremely talented Sterling Jr. High & High School students, rocking out to songs ranging from “That’s What Makes You Beautiful” by One Direction to “Good Golly Miss Molly” by Little Richard and “Hey Jude” by The Beatles, was a blast! Still, it made me think about how sometimes we have to make decisions that delay our goals, but that doesn’t mean the goals disappear or that we’ve failed.


We all have times when life presents a choice between two good things. Sometimes, we have to prioritize in ways that set us off course temporarily, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean the pursuit is over; it simply means that, for now, something else is taking precedence. It reminded me that life isn’t about perfect consistency or rigid rules, rather it’s about progress, dedication, and keeping our eyes on the bigger picture.


Admitting that a decision or circumstance has set us back from reaching a goal is not the same as giving up on that goal. I believe it’s actually a sign of maturity to recognize when a priority - like family, health, or a once-in-a-lifetime experience - needs to come first. Missing last week’s post doesn’t mean I’ve given up on my goal of writing every week. It simply means that, at that moment, my son’s concert held greater value. When we’re honest with ourselves about our priorities, we’re more likely to stick with our goals over the long haul.

My team has been working through the book Finish by Jon Acuff. We read a chapter on our own each week and then discuss our takeaways during our weekly “downloads.” One early lesson we learned is that sometimes, we let temporary setbacks feel like permanent failures. It’s easy to think that missing one step along the way means we’ve failed completely. But in reality, a missed step is just that - a single step, not the whole journey. The key is to keep the big picture in mind. Missing a week, or even a few weeks, doesn’t mean we abandon the larger goal. Life has ebbs and flows, and sometimes we’re going to veer off track for a bit. What matters is that we come back to the path and keep moving forward.


If you’re like me, you’re usually your own worst critic. I tend to set standards for myself that don’t always leave room for life’s unexpected turns. Striving for consistency is good, but expecting perfection will only lead to frustration. Missing a deadline or falling short of a goal occasionally doesn’t make us failures - it makes us human. Recognizing this helps us maintain momentum, rather than letting one missed milestone derail us entirely.


It’s natural to feel a bit guilty or disappointed when we don’t meet our own expectations, but guilt can quickly become a weight that pulls us further off course. Instead, see setbacks as brief pauses. Take a moment to reflect on why the goal matters, then pick back up where you left off. The most important thing is to keep moving forward without letting one missed opportunity feel like a reason to abandon the goal entirely.


That Leads Me to This Week’s Challenge…


If there’s a goal you’ve been working toward but feel set back from, take this week to revisit it. Consider why it matters and why it’s worth pursuing. If you’ve missed a few steps, let that go and start fresh. Goals are rarely achieved without a few missteps, but the commitment to keep going is what makes all the difference.

I’m thankful you took the time to read this (Sunday instead of Thursday Thoughts), for choosing to work, and for being part of what makes this world amazing.


To follow Jed's Thursday Thoughts blog, visit https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/thursday-thoughts-7189253536688361472/

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