Have you ever found yourself giving advice to someone else and seeing the picture so clearly, only to realize the very advice you are giving is advice you can/should implement in your own life? That happened to me today and while the advice was far from prophetic it hit me like a ton of bricks just a few hours ago…I should be listening to myself!
A co-worker had recently mentioned feeling stuck in life, wanting to change multiple areas of her life at once. With so much to do it seemed overwhelming, yet the yearning, the need, and the desire to change each area was still there, but the time to do it all wasn’t. In that moment the solution seemed so clear. It was as if I was looking straight through a clear glass of water and the solution was on the other side staring back at me. It was simple or so it seemed.
The first piece of advice is nothing we haven’t heard before. When you feel overwhelmed, break the big stuff down into little pieces and do it one step at a time. My particular advice was this. Find something you can do each week no matter how small or insignificant it seems and do at least one thing each week that will move you closer to your dreams. Set it on your calendar, make a date with yourself, schedule it in your phone if you have to. It doesn’t matter how you do it, just do it.
Time seems to be a hot commodity in our world. There never seems to be enough for what we want and need to do but if you are always looking for free time you won’t find it, you have to make time for things that are important. Sometimes that means getting rid of other things, or moving things around a bit so they fit, but however you choose to do it, you must make the time. Once you have set this date with yourself to work on your dreams/goals/aspirations etc. keep it. The momentum will build one step at a time and you will find yourself inspired, motivated and full of passion to continue to make tiny steps or big leaps toward your dreams.
My second piece of advice was to be kind to yourself. When it comes to goals and dreams, things rarely go exactly as planned and mistakes happen. In fact they have to happen in order for us to learn. So when you make a mistake or choose something over your weekly task, it’s ok. See it, accept it, and do better next time. You won’t get any closer to your dreams by rehashing your mistakes over and over again. Know that wherever you are headed takes time and many lessons and accept the lessons with open arms.
Sound like good advice? I thought it was. 🙂 A few hours later I was wondering how I will ever find the time to write this children’s book I want to work on this year and almost immediately my advice played back in my head. “You have to make time for what you want…”
This time I am listening and whether my tasks each week are tiny steps or big leaps one thing is for sure, I am making moves to make my dreams my reality and that is what this journey is all about.
What will your tiny step be this week?
