Are You Progressing or Performing?

Written By: Brad Pedersen

When it comes to health and fitness, I’ve always considered myself committed. I’ve built a life where movement and vitality are non-negotiable parts of my daily routine. Breaking a sweat every day has long been a way I connect with myself. It clears my head, resets my energy, and gives me a sense of accomplishment and control in a world that often feels unpredictable. While I’ve been consistent with intensity, the one thing I hadn’t given much attention to—until recently—was mobility.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to notice the gaps in my approach. Small injuries that used to be rare became more frequent. Recovery time took longer than it used to. And eventually, I couldn’t ignore the obvious: I had been prioritizing performance over flexibility. In doing so, I left a blind spot in my health—one that began to impact my ability to do the very things I loved.

So, I made a new commitment.

Last year, I committed to working on flexibility and as part of my updated routine, I began attending hot yoga regularly. If I’m being honest, I’m probably the sweatiest person in every class. Combine that with my limited flexibility, a strong dislike for heat, and the result is what I lovingly describe as an upside-down melting popsicle—a rigid stick, dripping, and surrounded by a puddle.

Despite the discomfort I have continued to show up week after week.

Slowly over time I have noticed my body starting to adapt and change.

The Comparison Trap

At first, I found the classes hard. Not just physically—but mentally.

I’d look around and see people gracefully balancing while flowing effortlessly into poses with names like “Bird of Paradise” or “Flamingo.” While they floated, I floundered. Initially I was inspired as I expected that soon enough I would be able to accomplish the same feats. 

However with limited progress my inspiration soon turned to frustration as slowly, my inner critic began to speak louder than my intention.

Why can’t I do that yet?

Why does this still feel so hard?

Am I even making meaningful progress?

Back to the Breath

During one of my weekly reflections, I started to question myself: Why was I so frustrated with yoga? Why was I beginning to feel resentful toward the experience and no longer looking forward to the classes?  It had nothing to do with the heat or the sweat—I’ve learned how to suffer well in my life. It had everything to do with my perceived lack of progress relative to others in the room.

I realized I needed to make a change. But the answer wasn’t to stop practicing yoga—it was to change how I showed up and to reconnect with my original intention.  

For the next session I made a small but meaningful shift: I closed my eyes.

Instead of watching others, I turned inward. I focused on my breath, on my posture, on what my body was telling me. I stopped trying to “keep up,” and instead started paying attention to what my body actually needed.

The result? By far my best yoga class!.

The Difference Between Performing and Progressing

We live in a culture obsessed with externally-oriented outcomes.

We’re taught to chase gold stars, public praise, and picture-perfect moments. We measure our worth by external success and social validation. Somewhere along the way, of progressing ourselves we shift to performing, to project to others that we have it figured out.

We want to be seen as successful, liked, strong and in control. But when we spend time performing to impress others, we eventually forget what we were there to do in the first place.  We start to drift. We start to detach. And if we’re not careful, we end up looking successful on the outside while quietly feeling empty on the inside.

It is what my coach calls the “donut effect:” glazed and delicious on the outside, but hollow and empty in the middle.

Living From the Inside Out

Progress is different. It’s not about applause or external results—it’s about becoming the person we were meant to be–revealing and unleashing all of your God-given potential.  It requires seeing yourself in a new light—and then doing the work to live into that identity.

That work is rarely glamorous. In fact, it’s often monotonous, tedious, and boring. It doesn’t draw attention and rarely, if ever, sees the spotlight. But it’s real. It’s quiet, steady and, over time, it becomes deeply fulfilling.

Progress isn’t about chasing the spotlight—it’s about clarifying your beliefs and values, and doing the inner work to live them out with intention.  It’s about tuning into the quiet wisdom of your own life rather than reacting to the noise around you. It’s choosing alignment over attention. It’s the difference between being noticed and being known. Between looking successful and living with integrity—where who you are, what you believe, and how you show up all line up.

When you perform, you focus on image. When you progress, you focus on impact. One drains you–the other lights and fills you up!

Looking Ahead

I firmly believe that we deserve to love our lives— not just parts of it but all of it.  To do so we don’t need to perform our way into significance. As created beings we are already significant. The work starts with living in a way that reflects that truth, by becoming the best and brightest version of ourselves.

So, Where Are You Right Now?

As you look at your work, your health, your relationships—ask yourself:

Am I performing? Or am I progressing?

Am I doing this because I want to grow—or because I want to be seen?

Am I aligned with my values—or drifting away from them?

These aren’t easy questions—but they’re the right ones.

Because living a life to the full doesn’t begin with more effort. It begins with more honesty.

Maybe this is the right season for you to pause and reflect on these important questions. If you’re an accomplished leader sensing that you’ve been caught in performance mode—or simply ready to reconnect with what matters—we invite you to explore what it looks like to live more intentionally.

Our next Full Spectrum immersive workshop takes place on April 10th, and it’s designed to help leaders like you move from performance to progress; in all areas of your life.

  Click this LINK  to learn more and to reserve your spot.