Taking the smallest step in the right direction is still movement towards where you want to be, and many small steps can add up to a huge distance. But this isn't a "baby steps" post, this is about what to do after you've taken a small step.
Widen your gait. Meaning, great, you've taken a small step, now make it a tiny bit bigger than before and see how that feels. This may sound basic, but sometimes basic is what you need, and here is the plain and simple truth - repeated small successes make you feel more confident in taking on bigger things. It builds your history of success, which is a pretty awesome thing to do if you think about it.
So, how does this apply to real life and what am I really talking about here? Well, it depends on what you are working on. If you need to build back up your relationship with your partner, start small - set a timer for 1 minute, and talk (with respect and authenticity) to your partner for that minute, focusing on the positive and not allowing fighting to come into play. When the timer goes off and your temper hasn't, awesome. Chalk that up as success and tomorrow go for 2 minutes, or maybe even later that night go for 2 minutes.
Or if you want to eat healthier - put 1 piece of a vegetable on your plate with 1 meal a day (i.e. broccoli). Then once you have eaten that meal and successfully eaten that one piece - praise yourself for eating a vegetable, and tomorrow see if you could do two pieces of broccoli or 1 piece at 2 meals. Again praise yourself, and don't let the guilt voice take over about how you "should be eating healthier". Instead do the small, and see what you can start building into.
Same thing with exercise. Start small by walking 1/2 a block one day, or for some of you this might even be too big (in that case modify it - like make a goal of walking your driveway). The next day see if you can go the whole block. Praise yourself for what you are doing that is different from the day before, and keep going adding a tiny bit more each day. Or if you know you should take the stairs but it still seems like too much, take the elevator to 1 floor below your floor, and then take the last flight of stairs the rest of the way up. I know it might seem a little silly but this is all about getting you used to success and the feel of doing things a little bit different and leading up to your desires for your life.
You can do this, you are worth it. Start small, often we fail because we take on too much too quick, so instead ask yourself What is the smallest thing I could do today to move me towards my dreams...and then do it.
Widen your gait. Meaning, great, you've taken a small step, now make it a tiny bit bigger than before and see how that feels. This may sound basic, but sometimes basic is what you need, and here is the plain and simple truth - repeated small successes make you feel more confident in taking on bigger things. It builds your history of success, which is a pretty awesome thing to do if you think about it.
So, how does this apply to real life and what am I really talking about here? Well, it depends on what you are working on. If you need to build back up your relationship with your partner, start small - set a timer for 1 minute, and talk (with respect and authenticity) to your partner for that minute, focusing on the positive and not allowing fighting to come into play. When the timer goes off and your temper hasn't, awesome. Chalk that up as success and tomorrow go for 2 minutes, or maybe even later that night go for 2 minutes.
Or if you want to eat healthier - put 1 piece of a vegetable on your plate with 1 meal a day (i.e. broccoli). Then once you have eaten that meal and successfully eaten that one piece - praise yourself for eating a vegetable, and tomorrow see if you could do two pieces of broccoli or 1 piece at 2 meals. Again praise yourself, and don't let the guilt voice take over about how you "should be eating healthier". Instead do the small, and see what you can start building into.
Same thing with exercise. Start small by walking 1/2 a block one day, or for some of you this might even be too big (in that case modify it - like make a goal of walking your driveway). The next day see if you can go the whole block. Praise yourself for what you are doing that is different from the day before, and keep going adding a tiny bit more each day. Or if you know you should take the stairs but it still seems like too much, take the elevator to 1 floor below your floor, and then take the last flight of stairs the rest of the way up. I know it might seem a little silly but this is all about getting you used to success and the feel of doing things a little bit different and leading up to your desires for your life.
You can do this, you are worth it. Start small, often we fail because we take on too much too quick, so instead ask yourself What is the smallest thing I could do today to move me towards my dreams...and then do it.
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