Questioner: I want to make progress. What is the difference between maintenance and progress? For example, if I didn’t mow the lawn, the grass would become out of control. If I mow the lawn on a regular basis I’m not moving forward, I’m staying in place.

Higgins: A delightful question with two aspects to the response. As you are aware, the two are not the same, yet progress comes more readily when a steady ritual of regular maintenance is in place. Imagine yourself on a beach, walking in dry sand. Your feet slip with each step. You decide to move closer to the water. Now you are walking on wet sand. Wet sand, closer to the water’s edge, packs more tightly making a firm surface. As you walk on the solid surface better propulsion is achieved and forward momentum is easier. Forward progress is made with less effort.

In a similar manner, maintenance provides a stable foundation from which to move forward. Maintenance tells the Universe you are successful. Every mow of the lawn, every dish washed and put away, every vacuum bag emptied…these all tell the Universe that here stands a successful person. Whereas, when the lawn is unkempt, the dishes left out, the floor dirty the Universe understands that here is a person who is either disinterested or overwhelmed. The disinterested person moves through life accepting what comes. The overwhelmed person, who actively wants more nice things in their life, will receive more, certainly, but in the way of a leaking water heater. The ‘more’ that comes, comes in the form of overwhelm rather than progress. This is why maintenance is vital to a successful person who makes progress.

Let’s think now in terms of energetic offerings. The emotion offered by the advancing person says, “I’ve got this. No problem.” And it shows in their ability to maintain what is before them. This kind of energy aligns with progress. The struggling person, those who do not maintain, do not align with progress. In short, maintenance is the key to aligning emotionally with progress. Progress is a natural next step from maintenance.