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August 22, 2007, A Mile Is Walked One Step At A Time

This week I had a dinner party for 15 people including myself. As expected the kitchen was a disaster afterwards. I woke up the next morning looked at my kitchen and was totally overwhelmed. As someone once said to me, "The bigger the party, the bigger the hangover." Now I didn't serve any alcohol, however trust me when I say the kitchen mess was as good as a hangover.

When these things happen I get through by telling myself that I can only walk a mile by taking one step at a time. So I take my first step of emptying the dishwasher. My second step is filling it up again. My third is filling the sink with hot water for those items that need to be soaked and so on. If I have to think of everything that has to be done I'll feel completely inundated and get nothing done because I shut down. That's just who I am and with that knowledge I work with myself. That sometimes includes making up games as I go along, anything to make it easier.

It doesn't matter what it is that we are taking on: a business plan; a new plan for the kids or a dinner party - no task is too large if we just take one step at a time without looking at what other steps need to be taken. The only thing that can be come too large is our thinking around it. With small doable steps (this requires knowing how we react to circumstances and working within that) we come to realize that we are totally in control of the situation. We only have to take each step as we feel comfortable doing so. What's so difficult about that?

It all boils down to perspective and if we are willing to alter the way we are looking at the task. It's true that certain steps may feel uncomfortable - not painful - uncomfortable. Have you been uncomfortable before? Would you face being uncomfortable again in order accomplish your goal?

This week take one step towards something you really wish to do or change in your life; just one step. You can figure out the rest of the steps as you go along. Having a plan for the going the full way never works out anyway as unexpected situations happen and we need to be versatile to work through them.

I'll see you at the one mile finish line.



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