Why Progress Feels Invisible—and How to Fix It

We humans share a common challenge that quietly erodes our sense of gratitude: automaticity.

Automaticity is the tendency to forget the good things that have happened to us—and, over time, to take meaningful progress for granted.

In this session, we will explore Chapter 4, “Always Measure Backward,” from The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy.

Together, we will examine the science behind automaticity and why the human brain is wired to overlook progress. More importantly, we will discuss practical strategies for measuring gains, strengthening resilience, and cultivating greater optimism and hope.

Expect a thoughtful, engaging discussion that blends research-backed insights with real-world application.

Background about The Self Improvement Book Club
The idea is to have fun discussing concepts from the book and inspire you to apply these concepts in your own lives.

You DO NOT need to have read the book.

Brief summary of the book courtesy of ChatGPT
The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy explores how people measure progress and happiness. It argues that when we focus on “the Gap”—the distance between where we are and our ideal—we feel frustrated and unfulfilled, but when we focus on “the Gain”—how far we’ve come—we feel motivated, grateful, and successful.

“Everything that psychologists know about how to create a high functioning and successful person can be achieved using The GAP and The GAIN.”
--Benjamin Hardy

Your hosts
Manoj and Ken are lifelong friends who are into self-improvement and collaborating on projects where they can have fun and learn.