This is my second post for this year, and this is what I was supposed to write as my first article, but the introduction developed a life of its own.

@samminator’s article reminds me of what I already know: that real progress often takes place underneath the surface before it turns visible. I love the analogies he used: from engineering, farming, and skill training. Just as foundations are carefully laid down deep underground, and seeds grow internally before emerging above the ground, real success occurs slowly and silently before manifesting an external outcome. Moreover, the blogger also mentioned that each of us is unique, to avoid comparing our results with others. Finally, the article repeats the old lesson about the importance of patience, noting that breakthroughs often come just after the hardest and most discouraging stages.

I think the story is familiar to many of us. It is something we can relate to, particularly those who have stayed on the chain for four years or more. Imagine entering the crypto space at the height of the bull, and since then, nothing has stopped you from accumulating HIVE despite the persistent downward trend. Imagine the huge loss you incur.

Old Lessons

From the above article, I am reminded of several old and time-proven insights:

The Invisibility of Progress

Not seeing immediate results is often discouraging, particularly if you spend so much time crafting a post, but it goes unnoticed. And then you see “shitposts” receiving huge support. That is discouraging for many and gives enough reason to quit the network due to perceived “unfairness” in the reward mechanism.

Just remember that it doesn’t mean that nothing is happening because you don’t see immediate results. The above analogies remind us that foundational work occurs in silence and takes time before it shows outwardly.

The Depth of the Roots

The depth of the roots determines the height of the tree. This is almost similar to the first insight, but the emphasis here is more on external success. Most people pay attention only when there is a big number and external results. They fail to see the years of struggles and tension. Nevertheless, the most important thing is that at the end of the journey, visible outcomes will testify to the unseen hard work you invested for years.

Enjoy the Journey

Also closely connected to the first insight is the appreciation of the uniqueness of your own journey. Don’t compare yourself to whales or orcas. It breeds envy and dissatisfaction, and that is not healthy if you are thinking of long-term growth. And besides, huge accounts have other factors that you don’t have that contribute to their growth. And those things are beyond your control. Be grateful, and the important thing is that you enjoy your journey.

Relevance to Micro-investing

Applying these lessons to micro-investing, this would imply the following:

Know that the growth of your HP is like sowing the seeds. Powering up a small quantity seems insignificant. I love to use the snowball effect. However, as you grow your HP through the years, your voting will grow with it, and so will your curation rewards.

Value the regular mini tasks such as upvoting, commenting, and staking. Resist the temptation to take your seeds and plant them somewhere. Just as seeds in the real world take time to mature, the same thing happens in the digital world: stakes require time to grow.

Be ready for discouraging times. Discouragement often comes when your posts are ignored, incentives are too small, the price of HIVE is constantly declining, and your HP growth appears flat.

Strength and Peace

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace (Psalm 29:11).

The text from the psalmist tells us that strength is a gift from the Lord. Those who receive it are humble enough to accept that they are weak. The strength that comes from the Lord is usually neither dramatic nor calling attention to itself.

I see the same thing in what I do here on Hive. The daily discipline of micro-posting, powering up, reading, and upvoting reflects this silent kind of strength. On Hive, the strength to stay consistent despite tiny incentives reflects reliance not on immediate but on long-term results.

The blessing of peace, too, is very timely for me. Even small activities such as micro-investing tempt us to compare balances and rewards. If we don’t have peace in what we’re doing, it is not easy to persevere and continue. It is peace that allows me to continue staking, building HP, and compounding silently.

Combined, strength and peace serve as a solid foundation. Strength enables action; peace enables endurance. Whatever is built on this foundation may take time, but it stands.

To conclude, I see micro-investing as an exercise in discerning stewardship under the power of grace. With all the threats, especially coming from fiscal and monetary policies, a person who reads the times must not allow anyone, not even his own government, to steal his property and deprive him of his freedom. Small, silent, and disciplined action that contributes to the formation of an unseen foundation is the way to secure a stable financial future.

Grace and peace!

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