Why We’re All Works in Progress (And Why That’s Okay)

“Human beings are works in progress that mistakenly think they are finished.” – David Brooks

I came across the above quote a couple of weeks ago and it’s really stuck with me. After having a bit more time to reflect on it, I thought that the quote could make for a good blog here on the page, which is exactly why we are going to be exploring it in today’s blog 🙂

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The quote was from a book called “How To Know A Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Seen Deeply”, which I was reading for a book club that I am as a part of the Undefinable Community. For those of you who haven’t read the book, it emphasises the importance of truly seeing and understanding people beyond superficial interactions in your life.

The quote underscores the understanding that personal growth and self-understanding are ongoing processes. Brooks illustrates how people often view themselves as complete and unchanging when, in reality, they are constantly evolving. Life is not a one-and-done kind of thing, it’s a journey of lessons, experiences and interactions that help shape us into who we are as people.

In my opinion, he reinforces how nobody in the world is a ‘perfect’ person, as that simply does not exist. We are all on our won pathways, developing and growing with each passing day – instead of striving to become a perfect person, we should instead shift our attention to focusing on getting a little bit better each and every day.

This perspective has helped me reframe moments of failure or difficulty – not as signs that I am lacking or failing in a particular area, but as opportunities for growth. Whether it’s facing criticism at work or handling disagreements with friends, understanding that I’m still learning helps me approach these situations with more patience and less judgment.

So, no matter what the rest of 2024 and the future have in store for you, remember this: you are not a finished product, you are always a work in progress. There is always room to evolve further, redefining what you deem possible and making you the best version of yourself. Use this to enter each week with a positive and driven attitude – who knows where it may take you 🙂

That’s all for today’s blog, what do you think? Are there any quotes out there that have really stuck with you lately? Would you like to see more blogs like this moving forward on the page?

As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for reading and I hope you have a lovely day!