One Small Step...

Do you have a vision, purpose or goal for your life that you know will stretch your abilities and resources? This vision can be a powerful catalyst towards upgrading ourselves, and yet, our minds tend to play a trick of all-or-nothing thinking that can pull us back into self-limiting beliefs and succumbing to failure, or stumbling over the stumbling blocks of life.

Having a vision of where you want to go in life can be a powerful source of motivation. When this vision is aligned with deeper values, meaning, and purpose in life, it can act as a springboard towards excitement, determination, and focus. When looking at the enormity of that vision, though, without being able to see the path laid out ahead of us, we run the risk of becoming overwhelmed by a mind that quickly falls into the trap of judging success or failure on a grand scale.

I know I can get lost in the enormity of my own idealized visions quickly. My visions often feel giant and unobtainable. I'm standing at the base of a mountain, taking in all its beauty, yet being paralyzed by fear, insecurity, and doubt. The task seems too great. I don't know where to start. What if I fail miserably? Over the years, I have learned these are sneaky tricks of the mind to keep me stuck in smallness.

Yet, there is another way of seeing that mountain in all it's enormity. We can choose to take a bird's eye view, looking down on the mountain from a different perspective. Suddenly that mountain doesn't look so daunting. We can see the various paths that may lead towards the top of the mountain and choose the particular path that feels achievable in our lives at this moment. We come to see how our prior accomplishments, strengths, and values can support our capacity to journey towards the next vision. We can further see the ways we have overcome obstacles in the past, which can help us step forward with greater courage and confidence. We suddenly find ourselves more on the middle of the mountain, simply taking the next brave step towards our vision, towards fulfilling the next goal, towards living life in greater alignment with who we are.

How does one small step support our journey up the mountain? That one small step offers the opportunity to build up our confidence to take the next small step. We may gain courage to choose the next, more daunting path with faith outweighing our fear. One small step puts us on the path towards where we want to go with an eye of understanding that obstacles and setbacks are a natural part of the journey itself. We can ask ourselves, "what can I do this week to step closer to my vision?" This allows our minds the opportunity to focus on the task at hand with curiosity, determination, and excitement because the vision has been broken down into a smaller step that will stretch us, but not overwhelm us.

The key to taking small steps is recognizing we can be in greater control of our journey by being fully present as we focus on the next move, the next small opportunity within our reach. From this mindful space, we can also gain clarity into understanding what obstacles may present themselves and how we can pull into our strengths, past successes, and a thirst for learning which transforms those obstacles into stepping stones, launching us further towards our vision.

The more we can take this bird's eye view, the greater opportunity we have to see what opportunities exist in the moment, and how our choices impact not only our vision, but also those around us in ways that we previously might not have been able to see. One of the ways this is actively playing out for me is recognizing how holding true to my core values as I interact with those around me can positively impact my own perception of the various circumstances and challenges while also planting seeds of a growth mindset in others. Recognizing I am never alone on this journey, but have an opportunity to be interconnected with others, learning from them and allowing them to learn from me, is offering me the strength to continue choosing the small ways I can lean into my authenticity as I journey towards the greater vision I have for my own life and how I choose to positively impact the lives of others.

The role of a coach or guide is to offer a safe space to explore our vision with guidance in seeing from this higher perspective. When we have the ability to freely speak in a safe, non-judgmental space with someone who can be present and offer us compassionate guidance, then that higher perspective tends to naturally flow through us, offering us the inner wisdom of what next small step will help us journey up the mountain towards making our dreams become reality.

One small step, one positive change, one interaction, or one opportunity to act in alignment with who you are can be the catalyst towards moving closer to that vision you have set out in front of you.

What is one small step you can take this week to support your greater vision in life?