One defintion of 'plodding' is: to work slowly and perseveringly at a dull task.
From work to education, from chores to development of healthy habits...many people experience difficulty with maintaining momentum while enduring 'growth' (and growth mindsets) in our work. I have observed that oftentimes we just get bored with all. We workout for 2-3 days, then quit. We execute on our SMART goals at work for 1 week, then quit. We journal or commit to doing devotionals in the morning, then shortly after...we quit.
What happens in the mind and motivation of those who experience this on/off ritual?
Here's a thought: We (Yes, I'm including myself) may not realize that strong habits - life-changing activities for the greater aspiration - become dull over time. My father often refers to this type of work as the 'palette of plodding'. When a farmer plods a field for harvest, it consists of digging and tilling soil. The process may also include: fertilizing, aerating, watering, and so on. Then comes the seed: take this as a 'hope/dream/aspiration'. We plant it with excitement. We visit the spot everyday - eventually concluding that our efforts may not be working.
It's a lot like gazing into a mirror - after one day of exercise. [Guilty!] Or pursuing a discussion about a promotion after a month of meeting your business goals. Unfortunately, growth takes time - and it's boring sometimes. We end up abandoning our plot - because the truth is: Plodding requires patience and persistence.
So what should we do when boredom, doubt, and skepticism creep in?
Remember that our harvest - our success and growth - begins outside of our ability to witness it directly. Seeds grow in the dark, flowers blossom in the sun. But the plodding always precedes what the soil (of our lives) produce. - Selah
Keep plodding.