This is not about progress bars or activity-indicators :-) Here and now I want to describe the process of progress. How you can improve your abilities of any kind.
This is not a concept that I invented. A lot of people tell about this in different ways. But only few people understand the relevance of the process, and thus are able to advance in their skills. Most are trapped in their attitude to be high above the average, and that they don't need to progress because they are already there.
The Three Steps of Progress
(Let these be small steps. You will get there safe and in time.)
1. Do it
To try it means being on the way. Don't think you don't have the talent, that you are not gifted for this, that others are much better, so it does not make sense to try it. Don't even think about such things. Don't let your "best friends" discourage you.
Do not argue about the why. Just do it. You want to make a melody? Simply do it. You don't need to learn the piano. Sing it, hum it, whistle it. No need to please your parents, relatives, friends. Do it for yourself.
Don't retreat because others are so high above you, and the media show you every day how little you are. Want to become a runner? So take your feet and run. You don't need the newest jogging shoes, and super-light sweat shirts, and and and. Just do it. At least you will gain experience.
2. Finish it
You are on the way. Frustration may be rising. You may be confused, exhausted, no idea how this can go on. Either you can overcome this crisis and continue, or you find a way how to finish it gracefully. Finish it in a way that you can call an end. You want to look back without anger. Don't let yourself fall onto the ground, gasping for air, better find some beautiful final tones to finish this melody.
Do not break your attempts. Try to make them round. Take something nice with you. Set a final step, and then say "It was fun, see you next time!".
Better have an awkward undertaking than a cancelled one. There is a slight difference between these: the cancelled one will be regarded to be hopeless.
3. Look Back
Keep a record of what you done. Collect souvenirs, write a diary. When you learn to create a melody, record on your phone all the melodies you invent. When you are jogging, make a mark on your calendar ever day you go running, and note the distance you made.
Then, after some time, look back. It is important to make breaks. Sum up all the marked days on calendar, listen to all the melodies you recorded. Evaluate it. Is this the direction you wanted to go? Are you satisfied with your achievement? Did you like to do it, was it fun, did you gain experience? If any of this is true, your attempts were successful. Now decide in which way you will continue, and plan your next step.
In case you are disappointed, keep a record about what you've done anyway. Again make a memorable end to all these attempts when you really found out that this is not for you. Write down your experience, you might want to read it later. One day you may want to continue because things have changed. And then it would be interesting to hear all those melodies, or come to know how far you could run.
Nothing in life is in vain. It is up to you to learn from it, for instance, couldn't you use the experience from composing melodies to get a better runner?
Do not believe people that tell you "Why move, we won't get anywhere". Even running in circles is better than sitting around. Movement is life.
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