Life as a doctor, or even just as a human being, is never about instant perfection. It’s about progress. If we make it our goal to be just a little better than who we were yesterday, we will eventually look back and see how far we’ve come.

Growth comes in small steps

Becoming better doesn’t mean giant leaps every day. It often means small, consistent steps. For example:

• Yesterday, you might have missed an important detail during ward round. Today, you make the effort to double-check your notes and present more confidently.
• Yesterday, you might have been unsure about interpreting an ECG. Today, you take time review and learn from your seniors.
• Yesterday, you struggled to take blood after two attempts. Today, you adjust your technique, stay calmer, and manage to get it on the first try.
• Yesterday, you had difficulty inserting a branula and needed help from a colleague. Today, you prepare better, take your time, and succeed independently
• Yesterday, you filled up the imaging request form but missed some clinical details. Today, you include a clearer history and justification, making it easier for radiology to accept your request.
• Yesterday, you felt nervous when referring a case and struggled to give a clear summary. Today, you organize your thoughts, present the case systematically, and the referral goes much smoother.

These small changes may not seem dramatic in the moment, but over weeks and months, they build into noticeable growth.

When we view every day as a learning day, we stop being afraid of imperfection. Instead, we start valuing progress.

It’s easy to compare ourselves with peers — who is faster, smarter, or more confident. But the real competition is not with others; it’s with ourselves. Ask: Am I better today than I was yesterday? If the answer is yes, even in the smallest way, then you are moving in the right direction.

Becoming better than yesterday doesn’t happen overnight. It happens one choice, one action, one lesson at a time. Every day we get a chance to improve — whether in knowledge, skills, or attitude. So take each day as an opportunity. Make the effort to grow, even just a little. Because if you learn something new every day, you will always be moving forward.