This is the second time I write this – please, for those who haven't noticed yet: Don't click on a popup about accepting cookies, while you are in the middle of writing something on Substack – it will all be deleted then!
Well, what I was writing in the lost comment, more or less (as I remember it):
Your email with this article came just while I was writing something similar in my diary. Not exactly the same words, but close enough to say that I agree:
Baby steps are a good method for getting going with something that looks impossible, or just too big to ever get through. Even steps that do not themselves lead to anywhere in particular can be useful, as they make you start moving, which, of course, is needed, if you should end up somewhere else than where you are.
It is fragile, though, as your surroundings (in such cases where life is actually happening to you), may not support you, or just not accept your progression, so they might kill your initiative, how small and innocent it might me, and if you had just that step in mind, you'll be back to ground zero and even with a feeling of failure.
It is common for surroundings to kill the baby step idea by requiring bigger steps from you, denoting the value of the small ones. Or they just feel like telling that you are a loser when you can only do such small things.
A couple of tricks to meet that kind of challenge:
1. Prepare for several baby step paths, in the sense that you don't decide on just one step, but a few. No matter how it goes with one, you'll keep doing the rest. This way, something will probably be successful and make you feel progress.
2. If you have people around you who understand that this is what you must do and are willing to support you, instead of (the much more typical) trying to talk you out of it and into something they think is better – then try to agree with them that they should give you a pad on the shoulder now and then.
When facing a big challenge, small successes and the feeling of support might be all you need to move in a good direction and even feel good with it.
And this about the steps not leading to anywhere in particular: it means that you may benefit from procrastinating! Doing the dishes or whatever you can make yourself active with can be exactly what is needed to make you start moving. Don't disregard such inspirations, but take them in as gifts from your subconsciousness, as it knows better than your rational brain that only wants to do important things that are straight on target.
Life isn't straight on target, ever! It's an illusion. It zig-zags through many different needs, and you have yourself many such needs, so taking them seriously will help you feel that things are going the right way – that you are moving.
This is well said.
No one is coming to save you.
The earlier you realise it the better.
Add: people who disagree with you won't realize you're right!
The wishful thinking is real. Let's all start by accepting reality and each other. Then let's work with what we have to make things better.
You'll never change a mind that is already made up.
This is the second time I write this – please, for those who haven't noticed yet: Don't click on a popup about accepting cookies, while you are in the middle of writing something on Substack – it will all be deleted then!
Well, what I was writing in the lost comment, more or less (as I remember it):
Your email with this article came just while I was writing something similar in my diary. Not exactly the same words, but close enough to say that I agree:
Baby steps are a good method for getting going with something that looks impossible, or just too big to ever get through. Even steps that do not themselves lead to anywhere in particular can be useful, as they make you start moving, which, of course, is needed, if you should end up somewhere else than where you are.
It is fragile, though, as your surroundings (in such cases where life is actually happening to you), may not support you, or just not accept your progression, so they might kill your initiative, how small and innocent it might me, and if you had just that step in mind, you'll be back to ground zero and even with a feeling of failure.
It is common for surroundings to kill the baby step idea by requiring bigger steps from you, denoting the value of the small ones. Or they just feel like telling that you are a loser when you can only do such small things.
A couple of tricks to meet that kind of challenge:
1. Prepare for several baby step paths, in the sense that you don't decide on just one step, but a few. No matter how it goes with one, you'll keep doing the rest. This way, something will probably be successful and make you feel progress.
2. If you have people around you who understand that this is what you must do and are willing to support you, instead of (the much more typical) trying to talk you out of it and into something they think is better – then try to agree with them that they should give you a pad on the shoulder now and then.
When facing a big challenge, small successes and the feeling of support might be all you need to move in a good direction and even feel good with it.
And this about the steps not leading to anywhere in particular: it means that you may benefit from procrastinating! Doing the dishes or whatever you can make yourself active with can be exactly what is needed to make you start moving. Don't disregard such inspirations, but take them in as gifts from your subconsciousness, as it knows better than your rational brain that only wants to do important things that are straight on target.
Life isn't straight on target, ever! It's an illusion. It zig-zags through many different needs, and you have yourself many such needs, so taking them seriously will help you feel that things are going the right way – that you are moving.