One Step at a Time
When it comes to reaching goals, I take mine one step at a time. I find this is the easiest approach.
I am learning that if I pressure myself too much, I work backwards. I don’t like to feel pressure. I am aware that this is a normal part of life, and it’s impossible to live your life avoiding pressure. But when it comes to reaching a goal, if I put too much pressure on a certain thing, I avoid it. Instead, I like to take a different approach. Whatever it may be, whether it is a big goal or a small goal, I break it down into sections.
For example, let’s say I want to grow a garden. This can be extremely intimidating to someone who has never successfully made this happen. If I look at big picture it seems overwhelming, but if I break it down into steps it doesn’t seem so difficult.
Step one: build the garden. This is easy. Make a plot of the shape and size, dig up the dirt, mix in certain components to obtain a good balance of the soil. DONE!
Step two: figure out what it is we want to grow. Pick out my favourite vegetables, which I am interested in growing.
Step three: make the rows in the soil and carefully plant the seeds or plants.
Step four: water the garden daily and watch it grow 🙂
Gardens come with daily maintenance. Watering, weeding, harvesting, and enjoying. Day by day, it will slowly flourish. This is the same for any dream. When it’s broken down into small pieces it becomes a puzzle. Every time I get a piece of the puzzle put together, it gives me a sense of satisfaction. It feels good, and it’s a slow, gradual process.
Which brings me to the next part of reaching goals. Celebrate the small victories. Celebrate the fact that I even want to grow my own garden. That in itself is amazing. Celebrate the completion of putting the garden together. Celebrate when the first plants pop up, and my green thumb intensifies. And celebrate the first time I get to pick and enjoy my first crop from my garden.
I am not a fan of laundry folding, but I have recently set myself a goal to stay on top of it. Folding one load at a time is a lot less overwhelming than the Mount Everest that will build up. If Mount Everest does accumulate, I dread doing it. I will allow it to build and build, getting all my other tasks done and putting that particular one off. Until it’s the last thing on my list, and I can no longer put it off. To make it more enjoyable, I turn on my favourite music or TV show. As I fold, I’m distracted from the thought of how much I dislike folding, and it goes quickly and smoothly. But it works so much more efficient to tackle it one load at a time. And of course, every single time I stay on top of it, I feel good about it, and I celebrate the fact I am reaching my goals.
Whatever the dream may be, I know I will reach it because its something for which I have excitement and passion. I know I will make the time for it and with each step I take –
I am that much closer to succeeding.
Written by: Krystle Rhea; Just Breathe Mama
