The Compound Effect✨

Hey there!

Have you ever thought to yourself "what's the point in doing it?" Reading the book, meditating, exercising...it's easy to feel like doing something for a short period of time won't make a real difference in the long run.

That is where The Slight Edge, or The Compound Effect comes into play. The general theory is that doing even small things over and over again compounds over time.

I was introduced to this theory in The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson, and would like to share it with you.

The Frog in the Milk Pail - Aesop Fable

A little frog was hopping around the farmyard. He was looking for good things to eat. He found wonderfully juicy flies buzzing around the pig pen. "Gulp! Gulp!" Gone. Then, he ate some delicious crunchy spiders that hung from webs behind the feed trough. "Gulp! Gulp!" Gone. He saw a mosquito flying by and reached out with his long sticky tongue and grabbed it. "Slurp, Gulp! Gulp!" Gone.

As he ate and as he explored new places, he saw a cricket hop into the milk shed. The cricket hopped through the door. So, the frog hopped through the door. The cricket hopped up onto the milk stool. So, the frog hopped up onto the milk stool. The cricket hopped up to the table top, and the frog hopped up to the table top. The cricket hopped to the window ledge, and the frog hopped to the window ledge. The cricket hopped out the window. But the frog fell, "SPLASH!" right into the milk pail.

The pail was filled halfway with fresh milk. The level of the milk was too low for him to reach the top of the pail. The sides of the pail were high, and he could not climb out. The frog kicked, and he swam in circles until he became tired. The frog tried to close his eyes just to rest for a few seconds, but he sank to the bottom of the pail where his nostrils filled with milk. He could not breathe. He used his legs to push off the bottom and kicked with all his might until he came to the surface again. He was so afraid, and he was so tired. He just wanted to rest. But every time he quit kicking, he sank into the milk again and started to drown.

The frog did not give in to his fear or his tired legs. He kicked and he kicked and he kicked and he kicked. Then, something strange happened. The milk began to turn thicker around him. At first, this made kicking even harder. The thickened milk tried to suck him to the bottom of the pail. It was harder than ever to swim and to kick. But, still the frog would not give up. Finally, the milk turned thick enough for the frog to stand on top of it instead of sinking in. The milk had been turned into butter through all the kicking and turning and churning of the frog. The frog was able to climb out to safety and to return to his family. 

When your life gets really tough...when you think you've had enough...when the world works you to exhaustion, just try to take a big deep breath. Try so hard before you rest. Keep on working. Do your best.

Each kick in this story seemed meaningless, but over time, compounded. The compound effect can be applied to almost all of the areas in your life including finances, learning, and exercise. This is the same concept that allows neuroplasticity to improve our strength! Just think...

If you committed to reading ten pages a day, in a year you will read 10 books.

If you saved $2 a day for ten years, you would have $7,300.

To get started with the compound effect, choose a small task, something you can commit to daily, for example exercising for ten minutes. The rest is simple, just do it - that small task - every day. Over the course of time you'll see real results, one step at a time. 

You can do this,

Dr. Gretchen, PT

P.S.

1. Connect with me on YouTube - Subscribe to my Dr. Gretchen YouTube page where you will be able to find MS specific exercises, research updates, guest speakers, and MORE!

2. Join The MSing Link Community - The MSing Link is my online MS wellness program where you'll find video demonstrations and explanations of MS-specific exercises for strengthening, walking, balance, and flexibility. There are also videos for activity-specific movements such as getting into/out of bed or a car, standing up from the ground, sitting down with more control, stair climbing, etc. Since this program focuses on the whole person and not just exercise, we have monthly live guest speakers (ie: neurologists, podiatrists, nutritionists, etc.) and research updates.

3. Work with me privately - I offer wellness consults via Zoom. This is an opportunity for you to share your story with MS and your goals. I'm able to educate you on MS-specific exercises for walking, general mobility, transfers, and day-to-day activities (ie: getting into/out of a car, stair climbing, etc.). You can schedule a one-time call or you can schedule recurring calls - your choice. Oftentimes, people will schedule one of these calls prior to joining The MSing Link and/or one call every couple of months. Schedule here