Small steps, big changes
Taking the little steps to overcome the struggle between intention and action
“I will write daily this year.” A promise made by your past self, but every time, your present self defers the task to the future self, who seems to have lots of time, who is all-knowing and motivated and can do everything. I will do it tomorrow. I will do it next time. It has been the killer of many dreams.
Intending to write regularly, I am putting down this draft so that my future self has a better hold on this.
I want to help myself by doing today what I can do tomorrow.
In helping my future self, I also want to understand why I find it hard to do that which I want and need to do. What stops me from being my best self is not doing what I promised and decided to do — which I know will transform my life.
Why?
Is it because I am unable to do it? Is it because I am unmotivated? This writing is just me trying to think and explore my thoughts.
A single decision can change or destroy your life. A step in the right direction can create the necessary momentum to make a difference. It takes one decision, one step.
Indeed. Change is a decision. Transformation is a decision. However, the struggle is always with inertia — the default of continuing in the same state. It takes energy to make a turn or change. Therefore, that step, that change, needs to be as small as possible, with no pressure of the impact of the end of it.
To overcome the struggle between intention and action, start by making small and easy decisions that require no pressure. If I want to write, I can take the following steps. I will open my computer, no pressure. I can write or not. Then, maybe open a blank page and start typing anything that comes to mind. There is no need to edit or produce a masterpiece; write. Take a small step; there is no pressure to be perfect or make anything out of it.
Like this piece, I wrote whatever came to mind. I did not intend to publish. It could remain in drafts or inform another article, but all it is today is a short piece written.
Tomorrow, we do it again: take another step.
It doesn’t matter what kind of change it is; make it small, easy, and no-brainer. Make that small decision, and let the traction, the universe, and the higher being do the rest.
“For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.”
Those who have will receive more; those who take action. Action begets action. A decision begets a decision and, ultimately, the change.
Do it today, do it small, do it anyway. You got this.
