You ever notice how the start of something — a new training plan, running routine, or strength cycle — sometimes feels… weirdly easy?
Like suddenly your body listens, your motivation is high, and things just click.
That little stretch of time is often called “beginner’s luck,” but there’s actually a deeper idea behind it. It comes from a book called The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and it’s called the Principle of Favorability.
Basically, it’s this:
When you finally decide to go after something meaningful, the universe gives you a little boost to help you get started.
Kind of a cosmic “I got you.”
And honestly? It checks out. I’ve seen it in athletes over and over again. That initial spark. Early wins. Confidence building faster than expected.
But then… something shifts.
The gains slow down. Workouts don’t feel as easy. You’re not hitting new PRs every week anymore, and suddenly that momentum you were riding feels more like a grind.
That’s not bad. That’s not failure.
That’s just the Law of Diminishing Returns showing up.
This one’s less poetic and more physiological. It means:
As you get more trained, you get fewer results from the same amount of effort. Your body’s adapting — and that’s actually great. But it also means that progress gets quieter. Slower. More subtle.
So here’s what I want you to know:
Both of these phases are normal.
The quick wins and the slower grind are both part of the same process.
You’re not broken because things got harder. You’re just leveling up.
The Principle of Favorability gives you an early boost — momentum to say, “Yes, you’re on the right path.”
The Law of Diminishing Returns kicks in later — a nudge to say, “Now it’s time to get intentional.”
You’ll have days where everything flows, and days where you wonder if it’s working. Both are part of the story. One isn’t better than the other. They’re just teaching you different things.
So if you’re new? Ride that wave.
If you’ve been at it a while? Trust the work, even when progress feels slower.
Either way? Keep showing up.
Because luck might start the journey.
But growth — real, lasting growth — shows up when you keep going anyway.