When we first hear the words "process" and "progress," these two not only sound alike, but in their Latin translations, they also share a fairly similar meaning. So what is the difference between process and progress? The question is simple to answer, but more complicated to fully understand.
When we talk about process, we talk about a journey — or like the Latin origin of the word processus, we refer to it as "a going forward." The process is the journey we take to achieve our goals.
Progress, on the other hand, is the continuation of how our journey has helped us along the path toward achieving them. Progress originates from the Latin word progressus, which, just like process, means "a going forward, an advance." Progress is the advancements we make in our journey through our process.
However, progress is not achieved easily. There is a need for commitment, a drive toward building up our progress through the process. To give you an example: if I want to start going to bed early, the process involves those adjustments I need to make to actually do it. The progress, however, is how consistent I am in pursuing that habit.
Process and progress are both crucial to achieving our goals. Process is the work we put in, and progress is the improvement we show along the way. As James Clear wrote in Atomic Habits:
"Ultimately, it is your commitment to the process that will determine your progress."
— Nordiel E. Martinez Cardona