Change: Learning that Every Tiny Step Counts

posted 20th March 2011    Written by: Juliana    CATEGORY: All Posts, Juliana, Life Lesson, Season 4

I’ve been making a ton of huge changes lately, as you’ve probably noticed.  But, lest I seem like some sort of superhero, I want to be clear about something:  These changes are coming neither suddenly nor with amazing ease.

Everyone wants a magic bullet. Everyone wants an “instant” solution.  Everyone wants to think of something they want to change and have it *poof* happen without much effort.  I’m just like everyone else…Except not really.

I’m a creature of habit, and I like my creature comforts.  Change can be pretty scary for me, even changes that are positive. So, though it might appear I’m just doing a complete Life Overhaul, I’m not.  That kind of thing would send me running for the hills in a heartbeat.  Every big change I’m making has to be broken into lots of much, much smaller steps in order for me to succeed. Otherwise, I’ll just quit before I even see any results.

The job I recently left?  I was there for 3 years, longer than any other job I’ve held. I was too comfortable there to quit suddenly, and thought about it for a long time before even talking to G. about it, and *then* waited another two months before putting on my Big Girl Panties and actually putting my notice in.  Even then, I was pretty scared.

The album I just released?  Has taken me two very long years to get together, with stops and starts all over the place. There were delays and life events that interfered, and plenty of opportunities for me to abandon the project.  I just did the  little bit at a time that I could do and tried not to let that stuff get me down.

The health changes I want to make?  I’ve been working out on and off for months with no change until now. I’ve tried high intensity workouts, high protein-low-whatever diets, gyms,pedometers, weights, blah blah blah.  Those were all great for a couple of weeks at a time, but then I’d fall off the wagon and be back to my old, unhealthy habits.  The success I’ve had recently has been without any of those things.  I’ve started very, very small… literally, with small steps.  The only change I’ve made so far is to try to go on a walk every day. I’m not counting mileage, or even noting how long I walk.  I’m just going for a walk.  The goal is small enough that I’m not intimidated by it, and so I’ve been able to stick to it.

Even this post had to be done in tiny pieces (with a few breaks) before it was finished…but I got there eventually!

I guess the lesson in this for me is that, even when it feels like I’m not doing much at all, I am getting just a few tiny steps closer to my goals. Big, sweeping changes generally don’t last long, but teeeeeeensy accomplishments that build on one another can lead to permanent changes.

So yes, here’s to Big Dreams, because they are worth having and striving for.  But here’s to putting one foot in front of the other, slowly, to get there.

 

[photo by Nicola Whittaker]

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Comments (3)

3 Responses to “Change: Learning that Every Tiny Step Counts”

  • inspiredcoachpazen Says:
    March 20th, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    Juliana, I love that you're realizing that gradual change works! We all have, on occasion, false starts and overly ambitious plans. I expect the reason you've been successful with the job shift, the album, the walking is due to your commitment and the appropriateness of your plans. And now, just think! You know how to eat an elephant! Good for you!

  • Nadine Says:
    March 20th, 2011 at 2:16 pm

    I could have written a post exactly like this. Exactly! I'm also a creature of habit, and big change makes me nervous. So I'm a fan of baby steps, it's what works for me. And usually, big change ends up happening, but it's so gradual that I hardly notice. But I've incorporated it into my life by moving slowly (otherwise, I might be too afraid to even try). Thanks for this wonderful post, I enjoyed reading it!

  • amandafarough Says:
    March 20th, 2011 at 7:12 pm

    Gradual change is so the way to do it. Jumping in headfirst is a sure-fire way to burnout fast and hard. And really? Burnout SUCKS. Also, it's the little things that add up to something really profound. So proud of you! <3

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