I’ve worked in the sustainability sector for nearly 15 years, and there is something we say a lot:
A small step makes a big difference.
In the sustainability world, this could mean turning off your lights when you leave a room (a small step) – a tangible habit that when done repeatedly can save up to 10% off your energy bill (a big difference). This simple, repetitive habit builds confidence, capability and intent, so that over time you may take bigger and more impactful action, such as installing solar panels on your roof.
The adage ‘a small step makes a big difference’ is true in our personal lives too.
When we set ourselves goals, when we want to change things in our lives, it starts with a small step.
Say if your goal was to run a marathon – you wouldn’t start by going on a 20km run. You’d start with a 1km run. Gradually, that 1km becomes 5km. As your confidence and fitness improves, it turns into 10km, then 21km and finally you achieve your goal – one that only 0.01% of the world’s population ever achieve – run a 42km race. Yet, that wonderful achievement started very simply, with a 1km run.
If your goal was to write a book – you start by creating a mind-map of ideas. Then a basic structure or rough table of contents. Then you’d start writing a page. Then a chapter. Finally, after you get into the groove of researching, writing, building your confidence and finding your voice, you write several more chapters until the manuscript is completed. Yet it all started with a mind-map of ideas.
It’s the same when we want to make inner shifts to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life, activated from the place of our higher self.
Making a shift, even if it seems small, can ripple out to an even larger shift, potentially a breakthrough.
This could look like a shift in thought patterns – replacing self-critical thoughts with more strengths-based, expansive and supportive ones. And continuing to do this, time and again, even when we fall back into old thought patterns.
It could look like developing a consciousness of how a word is used – noticing words like should, need, want.
In situations where you feel triggered or notice your fight and flight being activated – remembering to find your centre and reset your nervous system. Understanding inquiry questions to ask yourself.
These things may seem small, but they are setting you up for significant shifts in the future. Especially if you repeat that small act over and over, day by day.
Imagine if today you interrupt one thought that isn’t serving you, and instead embrace a thought that better reflects the talents and inner resources you are naturally blessed with? And imagine if you did that tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that. What possibilities and opportunities would you be open to then?
How could you access more freedom in your day-to-day life by letting go of “I should do this” or “They shouldn’t be doing that” or “I need to do this”. By letting go of shoulds and needs, would you be free to connect more fully with experiences and those around you? Would you come from a place of playfulness, natural flow and openness, rather than holding tightly to your expectations?
Imagine what could open in your future, if you inquired into your triggers rather than let them overtake you? And you honed that skill and practiced it day after day after day, as you notice yourself being triggered by things thrown at you (people, traffic, news, work situations, etc). Would you experience more curiosity, more love, more respect, more authenticity, more connection? How would your life look then?
Your future is created by your present. Just as your present is created by your past.
You don’t need (notice that word need?) to do anything huge to change your future. You don’t have to drastically change your life or create an upheaval.
Just like we say and do in the sustainability world – just start with one small, simple step.
Consistent simple and small steps now create breakthroughs and transformations in your future.
Here are some thought-starters to help you start small and build into big:
- Have you noticed a thought that immediately pops up after an inspired idea, one that tells you why the idea won’t work? (Like maybe, “I’m not good enough”.) Maybe that’s a thought to pattern-interrupt.
- Have you noticed being triggered by someone or something? Look into the root cause, not about the other person or situation, but within yourself.
- Have you noticed yourself using the word, ‘should’ or ‘need’? When those words slip out, have a think about what expectations you’re holding about yourself, the situation or another person. Are they true?
When you start small with prompts like these, and consistently untangle the energy and beliefs behind your patterns, down the track you will notice a huge difference. You’ll find you’re living – more often – from the place activated by your higher self. And, I don’t know about you, but that’s definitely the place I want to live from!
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Connection Compass acknowledges the Turrbal and Jagara people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, live, and gather. We pay our respect to Elders past, present and emerging, and draw inspiration from their connection to Country, community and spirit.
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