Be proud of progress, not perfection is a game-changing mindset shift. It’s about celebrating the small wins on your journey instead of getting paralyzed by an impossible ideal. This approach builds momentum and makes any goal, especially fitness, sustainable.
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Meaning
It means your focus should be on the direction you’re moving, not on some distant, flawless finish line that doesn’t actually exist.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this over and over. Perfection is a trap. It’s a mirage. You chase it, you never catch it, and you end up feeling like a failure before you’ve even really started. But progress? Progress is real. It’s tangible. It’s that extra rep you squeezed out, that slightly heavier weight you lifted, that consistent week of hitting your macros. When you shift your pride to those things, you build a positive feedback loop. You’re not waiting for some far-off “perfect” body to feel good; you feel good today because of what you accomplished today. And that feeling? That’s the fuel that keeps you going for the long haul.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Personal Development (697) |
| Topics | growth (413), progress (50) |
| Literary Style | short (36) |
| Emotion / Mood | optimistic (116), reassuring (55) |
| Overall Quote Score | 76 (131) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Michael Matthews’s 2012 fitness book, Thinner Leaner Stronger, which was published in the United States. You sometimes see the sentiment echoed elsewhere, but this specific phrasing is his.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Michael Matthews (111) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Thinner Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Female Body (55) |
| Origin Timeperiod | 21st Century (1892) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Michael Matthews writes straightforward, evidence-based fitness books and leads Legion Athletics, a supplement and education company. He connects with readers through the Muscle for Life podcast and hundreds of articles on training, nutrition, and healthy habits. He champions simple programming, high-protein diets, progressive overload, and sustainable fat loss. The Michael Matthews book list includes Bigger Leaner Stronger, Thinner Leaner Stronger, Muscle for Life, Beyond Bigger Leaner Stronger, and The Shredded Chef. He continues refining his methods using new research and feedback from thousands of readers and clients.
| Official Website
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Be proud of progress, not perfection |
| Book Details | Publication Year/Date: 2012; ISBN/Unique Identifier: 9781938895308; Last edition: 2021 Revised Edition; Number of pages: 420 |
| Where is it? | Approximate page 334, Chapter 16: The Imperfect Path |