The Unfinished
Starting is good, but finishing is better
Everyone leaves things unfinished. I don’t know if I am especially worse than anyone else in this regard, but sometimes it feels that way. I have started and abandoned countless projects, plans, hobbies, books, essays. Some of this is the result of healthy exploration. Some of this is the result of quitting when things get hard, and moving onto something new.
For many things that are worth doing, we do not get to realize the actual benefits unless we pass a certain threshold. Starting is good. Actually, it’s great. But in order to truly benefit from anything worth doing, it is necessary to maintain momentum and focus until you cross a threshold where true growth sets in. This will leave you permanently better.
Leaving things unfinished is not bad in itself. An unfinished sketch from Michelangelo is incredibly valuable. But, it is only valuable because of the works that he did finish.
Making your life into something you are proud of requires setting out in one direction and doing something long enough, seriously enough, to realize the growth and benefits of that activity. You don’t have to be the best in the world. Accomplishing things you believe to be difficult, even if you are not the best, is the source of self-belief and fuels future growth and ambition.