Do You Really Trust the Process? (Day 20)

Most people say they trust the process — but what they really mean is, “I’ll trust it as long as it’s working.”

They’ll go to the gym for a month, but if the scale doesn’t move, they question everything.

They’ll post content for a few weeks, but if the views don’t spike, they start doubting.

They’ll meditate, journal, or eat clean — and expect life to immediately reward them for it.

But that’s not trust. That’s bargaining.

Real trust begins before the results start showing up.

It starts when you keep showing up anyway.

Here are some things I’ve been reflecting on today:

Most People Don’t Trust the Process — They Trust Results

There’s a pattern I see over and over again — in poker, in coaching, in myself:

Someone sets out to do something meaningful. They get excited. They start strong. But after a few weeks or months, the results slow down. Progress plateaus, and that’s when the doubt creeps in.

“Is this really working?”

“Am I wasting my time?”

“Maybe I need a different plan.”

It’s a seductive trap. Because on the surface, those questions seem rational, even logical. But underneath, they’re coming from a deeper fear: “I don’t believe this will work out.”

That’s what most people are really saying when they pivot, hesitate, or quit.

They didn’t trust the process — they trusted short-term feedback.

And when that disappeared, so did their commitment.

Hope Is Not the Same as Belief

When people say they trust the process, what they often mean is: “I hope this works out, and I’m watching closely to see if it does.”

It’s fragile trust. It depends on visible signs.

It’s the equivalent of planting a seed and checking every day to see if it’s sprouted — then pulling it up when it doesn’t show fast enough.

True belief, by contrast, isn’t anxious. It doesn’t need proof every day. It’s deeper.

It says: “I may not see the fruit yet, but I know the work I’m doing is taking root".”

That kind of belief doesn’t need motivation, it fuels itself.

The Illusion of Control

At the heart of this problem is something sneaky: we want to trust, but we also want to control.

We want guarantees.

“If I do X, I better get Y.”

It’s natural. The human brain craves certainty. But the moment we attach to outcomes, we lose presence. We stop doing the work for the sake of the work, and start performing in hopes of a reward.

This mindset is exhausting. And it leads to suffering — because we can’t force the timing of outcomes.

Life doesn’t pay out on a schedule.

What we can control is effort, intention, and integrity.

Everything else requires surrender.

And surrender doesn’t mean giving up.

It means showing up without needing control.

What If You Knew It Would Work?

This is one of my favourite reflection questions to ask:

Most people say things like:

• “I’d stop overthinking and just do the work.”

• “I’d be more relaxed.”

• “I’d stop stressing and enjoy the process more.”

Interesting, right?

So here’s the next question:

What’s stopping you from doing that anyway?

This is where the gap reveals itself.

We say we want to trust the process. We say we want to enjoy the journey.

But we don’t live like it — because we’re still addicted to control, proof, and performance.

And the truth is, there is no guarantee. There never was.

Yet that doesn’t mean we can’t act as if there was.

That’s what trust looks like:

Showing up as if the outcome is already unfolding, even when you can’t see it.

Real Trust Is What You Do Without Proof

You can tell how much someone trusts the process by what they do when no one’s watching.

When things are quiet. When progress is slow or non existent.

That’s where trust is tested.

It’s easy to work hard when you’re getting praise.

It’s easy to keep showing up when you’re making progress.

It’s easy to be consistent when momentum is on your side.

But what about when it’s not?

What about when your content gets 12 views?

When your scale goes up after a week of clean eating?

When your bankroll takes a hit despite you doing everything you can?

Can you still show up then?

Because that’s where growth happens. That’s where most people give up — and where you get to separate yourself.

The world is full of people who gave up too early.

And it’s built by the ones who didn’t.

Can You Trust Life Before It Gives You a Reason?

There’s a line I remind myself of often:

You only get to choose how you show up, not what you get in return.

Life isn’t trying to trick you. But it will test you.

It will ask: “Do you really want this?”

It will ask: “Will you keep showing up when there’s no applause?”

And your response to that question is everything.

So if you’re in a season of doubt — if the results aren’t showing, the path isn’t clear, and nothing seems to be moving — ask yourself this:

Can I trust life before it gives me a reason?

Because that’s where the real journey begins.

Adam