My sister-in-law, who spent time in Korea during the 1990s doing church service, recently told me something fascinating about how traditional Korean stairs were built. Apparently, construction focused more on function and adaptability than precision. Builders had to work with local materials and uneven ground, often without using standardized tools or measurements. As a result, the steps would sometimes vary in size by the time they reached the top.

Many building and architectural elements – like stairs or wooden joints – were crafted in real time, with builders making adjustments along the way. This wasn’t about imperfection; it was about meeting practical needs with what was available, even if things turned out a little uneven.

Even if things turned out a little uneven. 

How many times does our progress turn out a little uneven – a little bigger or a little (or a lot!) smaller than we were expecting or planning?  

For me it’s all the time. 

Let’s look at some times when our steps might be smaller, when our progress is a little imperfect:

1. Plateaus:  when our growth slows, and we need patience or even a reset.
2. Setbacks:  when life kind of knocks us off track, and we feel our perseverance tested. 
3. Burnout: when we’ve pushed too hard or for too long, and our energy.  just.  runs.  dry.
4. Illness or Injury:  when an (expected) or unexpected health issue interrupts our momentum.
5. Life Transitions:  when big changes shake up our routines and focus.
6. Mental Blocks: and (a-hem) when fear, doubt, or perfectionism make it hard to move forward.

Some seasons of progress ask more from us – they ask us to pause, recalibrate, or simply sit with what is before we can move forward again.

Now, good news, some of those steps are bigger, too! Sometimes our progress is accelerated.

When? 

For me, most often it’s one of these times:

1. Practices or Routines: when we are using consistent habits that build structure and create steady progress.
2. Skill Mastery: when we get better, our confidence grows, and our progress speeds up.
3. Momentum: when progress builds on itself, making each step (no pun intended) a little easier.
4. Opportunities: when unexpected chances come along and push us further.
5. Optimized Resources: when we have the exact right tools or conditions that make everything run smoother.
6. Resilience: when we are able to bounce back quickly from setbacks and still keep things on track.

Antonio Brown said “The journey is never-ending. There’s always going to be growth, improvement, and adversity; you just have to take it all in and keep moving forward.”  Like old Korean stair-building, our sometimes uneven lives involve constant adjustment. 

Success comes from embracing the unevenness along the way.

I can’t wait to hear about how you’re embracing your unevenness.  And if you need help with any of your “stairs,” I’d love to give you some assistance. Really. 

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