The Kaizen Method Or One Step At A Time
One way or another, the Kaizen Method is rooted in Taoism. The word kaizen means etymologically “to improve for the sake of profit”. This benefit refers to a collective contribution, not to an individual good. Thus, this method is designed from an altruistic point of view. We improve daily in order to see a better world develop.
In the Kaizen method, improvement is not a one-off success but a continuous process, a form of life. For many, it was thanks to this method that Japan became one of the great world powers after being completely devastated by World War II. Although it is very useful in business processes, here we will focus on its application in personal life.
The Kaizen method and constant improvement
Kaizen starts from the idea that if you improve 1% of your life every day, you will achieve a big transformation in the medium and long term. According to this method, it is smarter to make small continuous improvements than to offer you big transformations that often don’t happen because of their size.
The Kaizen method is very effective because it removes two big obstacles to change. The first of these is the fear of change. Since the goal is not to introduce big changes, the anxiety is lower. More realistic expectations are nurtured and, as a result, less disillusionment results.
Moreover, Kaizen helps prevent this common tendency of procrastination. Procrastinating is always putting off change. If we feel that we have a gigantic task ahead of us, very often we decide to take care of it at another time. We know that it will take a lot of effort from us and, therefore, it intimidates us. However, with the Kaizen method of continuous improvement, this factor disappears.
Goals so small it’s impossible not to achieve them
The key to the Kaizen method is to make us set small but constant goals or challenges. These are goals so accessible that it is virtually impossible not to achieve them. For example, if you want to cancel all your debts, Kaizen invites you to save a small amount every day.
This model is based on the principle of moving forward step by step. The philosophy is that by focusing your attention on each step, you get further. In this way, the difficulty gradually increases. But this point is not obligatory; you should only go up the ladder if you really want to. It is not necessary to increase the difficulty level.
With the Kaizen method, you only commit to improving yourself in one aspect of your life, little by little and every day. Of course, you should be aware that some goals will take time to achieve. But it is not important. The main thing is that you have worked every day to achieve it and you feel proud of it.
A chain of achievements
The Kaizen method invites us not to fall into inertia, not to let a day go by without having improved something. The important thing here is not to focus on the end goal but on the process. This model pushes us above all to cultivate a lifestyle in which there is always improvement, progress. And it makes us feel like we win frequently.
It is not just a feeling of satisfaction after having achieved a daily goal; indeed, it is a practical way of solving big problems. Japan itself emerged from a great crisis by applying this philosophy. He did not do it overnight but did it with honors.
This method can be applied in any area of life. Whether it is to lose weight, to be happier … As you start to use it, you will probably feel different. You will surely feel like you are moving forward with greater control over your life and greater optimism for living it.
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