Fall was always my favorite season growing up. The start of the school year was a well-timed marker to set new annual goals. And the Jewish High Holidays provided me space to reflect on my life’s progress.
This was especially true as a teen when drama and hormones are high and change is constant. Each year was a new opportunity to modify my persona and improve my social rank. That meant wardrobe makeovers, developing new comedy material, and strategizing how to turn a current girl friend into The Girlfriend (the biggest challenge).
Although I graduated from school and formal religious observance awhile ago, I still use this season for continued meaningful growth, the ongoing evolution of me. My inner contrarian likes going through this away from January 1 when the personal growth industry turns New Year’s Day into a “New Year, New You” mass marketing cliche.
In truth, every day is the perfect moment to commit ourselves, or to experience, profound change. Waiting seldom serves a useful purpose. Most of the time it is a delay tactic powered by the ego and manifested in fear that we are either not fully prepared to commit to the change, or we are afraid what the change will bring.
Life of course keeps happening whether we’re ready or not, since God, who created everything, is always ready to do amazing things.
So what to do when your inner desire to take action is bullied by the noise from fearful thoughts that seem to be ever present?
Shift your focus from the shiny gold medal you’ll win after you compete against yourself in an exhausting race. Winning takes training and you must build your endurance. It can be empowering to break your ultimate goal into shorter non-overwhelming sprints. In other words, take your eye off the finish line and focus on your feet in front of you. Every step you take moves you closer to what you desire.
“Little things make big things happen,” legendary coach John Wooden said, one of his many brilliant maxims.
What “little thing” can you do today that serves you and your higher purpose? Send that one email or make that phone call you’ve been putting off. Research a relevant topic. Learn something new from an expert in your field through an online course, podcast, or book. Write one page of your own book.
Declare for yourself: “Here I am,” whether or not you feel ready.
Need encouragement and discipline support? Drop me a line; ask anything. It counts as one step.
Photo above: Jerry Wong/Flickr.com