It’s March, which means that for most of us our New Year’s Resolutions are but a distant memory. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the things you are trying to accomplish ask yourself this, “What is one thing I can do today toward that goal?” It is amazing the difference that taking one simple step can make.
For starters, that first step takes us out of “I should be” into “I am”. Once you take that first step you are actively engaged in the goal. Whether you’re trying to get fit, want to keep your house tidier or are trying to start a business, it makes more of a difference than you might think.
I’ve been experiencing this this year with the simple habit of making my bed in the morning. It is a easy thing to do, it only takes a minute, but it sets the tone for the whole room. When it’s all neat and tidy and I bring in a load of laundry into the room I catch myself thinking, “I might as well put that away now, everything else looks so nice.” One act in the direction I want to go helps steer the whole day that way.
It works in other areas of life too. Several years ago I was talking to a Silicon Valley CEO and someone asked him what his most important habit was. He said that every single day, before he opens his email he writes a thank you note to someone he was in contact with the day before. Whether it’s one of his staff, or a new contact or a potential investor every day begins with gratitude. He said it set the tone for his whole day, especially when there were major issues lurking in his inbox.
Stephanie Pearl McPhee, in her book Things I’ve Learned From Knitting. . . Whether I Wanted to or Not wrote:
“Things get knit faster when you actually work on them. That’s why the scarf I’ve allegedly been knitting for two years just isn’t getting any bigger, no matter how long I leave it in the basket.”
Wise words indeed. It’s easy to get stuck at the beginning of a goal, telling ourselves “I’m working in” when what we’re really doing is ignoring it. One simple step can really help to get those goals off the ground.
What goals are you working towards? What is one step you can take today to get you started?
More ways to move forward:
How to set goals
Tips for persevering
Tags: exercise, Family, goal setting, goals, health, Men, Self, tips, Women
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Exactly…..I have been working on a crochet blanket for like 4 years. I’m finally working on it full time now. Thanks for the article. I am still working out every week. And it is paying off. Thank You Jesus!
“Step by step, life’s a cinch.
Yard by yard, life’s real hard”
Make realistic goals and remember to move toward those goals.
We must always press forward. Looking back keeps us suspended in time.