ONE STEP AT A TIME

“The journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step.”
~ Lao Tzu

Embarking upon a new journey – whether it be going back to college, starting our own business, or simply adopting a healthier lifestyle – can sometimes feels like we’ve set ourselves upon an endless road, and it’s easy to become distracted and disheartened by our apparent lack of success – or even progress – when we consider the many miles we have to trudge before we can arrive at our conceived destination.

However, while it can be daunting to enter a new phase of life, or to simply tackle that huge project that’s been on our to-do list since the dawn of time, it doesn’t necessarily mean we have to be David walking into the arena to face our Goliath.

Everything in life can be broken down into smaller steps.

In much the same way that jigsaw puzzle you purchased from Ikea initially seemed impossible to put together, yet you pulled off a minor miracle by following the instructions one step at a time to put the pieces together, you can accomplish the supposedly unimaginable by simply breaking it down into more manageable tasks – in other words, by taking it one step at a time.

Focusing on the big picture can be overwhelming for a lot of people – “Oh my God! I have to clean the entire kitchen!! It’s probably easier to just move!!!” 😱😵‍💫😭

But we can’t allow that apprehension to stop us from endeavoring to achieve our goals. We need to think of our goal as that Ikea space saver, and the only way we’re going to get it fully mounted up is by piecing it together a little at a time.

Breaking down the goal of a spotless kitchen into smaller tasks – cleaning the stove, doing the dishes, packing away the groceries – allows us to focus all of our attention and effort on each individual task, which in turn distracts us from the immensity of the project we’ve undertaken and subsequently reduces our overall anxiety regarding it.

The saying ‘It takes ten years to be an overnight success’ exists for a reason … Progress and Success are almost never instantaneous.

Guys like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos may be on our vision boards as our inspiration and goal for financial success, but they didn’t suddenly wake up billionaires one day … it took more than two decades for Gates and his business partner, Paul Allen, to turn Microsoft into the software giant we know today, and it was almost a decade after Bezos quit his job and started Amazon in his garage before the company saw a full year’s profit. So, while it may sometimes feel like we’re standing still because we’re not seeing immediate progress, remember – even The Flash gets where he’s going one step at a time.

And with that in mind, today I’d like to share a few quotes on – you guessed it ✅🙏 – taking it one step at a time:

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase,
just take the first step.”

~ Martin Luther King, Jr.

“You can get anywhere
if you simply go one step at a time.”

~ Dave Ramsey

“We do not have to become {heroes} overnight.
Just a step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up,
seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared,
discovering we have the strength to stare it down.”

~ Eleanor Roosevelt

“The person determined to achieve maximum success
learns the principle that progress is made one step at a time.”

~ David J. Schwartz

“You plant a garden one flower at a time.
You write a book one word at a time,
clean a closet one shelf at a time,
run a marathon one step at a time.
If you feel defeated by some large task,
get your spade and dig the first hole.”

~ Jeanne Marie Laskas

“Dreams can come true, but there is a secret.
They’re realized through the magic of persistence,
determination, commitment, passion,
practice, focus, and hard work.
They happen a step at a time,
manifested over years, not weeks.”

~ Elbert Hubbard

“When we are sure that we are on the right road,
there is no need to plan our journey too far ahead,
No need to burden ourselves with doubts and fears
as to the obstacles that may bar our progress.
We cannot take more than one step at a time.”

~ Orison Swett Marden

“Most times, the way isn’t clear, but you want to start anyway.
It is in starting that other steps become clearer.”

~ Israelmore Ayivor

“On your darkest days, do not try to see
the end of the tunnel by looking far ahead.
Focus only on where you are right now.
Then carefully take one step at a time
by placing JUST one foot in front of the other.
Before you know it, you will turn that corner.”

~ Anthon St. Maarten

“Overcome obstacles one at a time:
Sometimes the end goal becomes too daunting,
so take things one step at a time
and overcome each obstacle as you get to it.”

~ Joy Mangano

“It’s difficult to change overnight.
but if you are persistent
and take one step at a time,
yoU will see results.”

~ Jack LaLanne

“I find that it’s best to take one step at a time
and cross each bridge as they come to you.”

~ Michael Stuhlbarg

“Big achievements come one small advantage at a time,
one step at a time, one day at time.”

~ Jim Rohn

“Don’t try to rush progress.
Remember – a step forward, no matter how small,
is a step in the right direction.
Keep believing.”

~ Kara Goucher

“Do not be impatient with your seemingly slow progress.
Do not try to run faster than you presently can.
If you are studying, reflecting, and trying,
you are making progress whether you are aware of it or not.
A traveler walking the road in the darkness of night
is still going forward.
Someday, some way, everything will break open,
like the natural unfolding of a rosebud.”

~ Vernon Howard

“Progress however, of the best kind, is comparatively slow.
Great results cannot be achieved at once;
and we must be satisfied to advance in life as we walk – step by step.”

~ Samuel Smiles

“I will persist. I will always take another step.
If that is of no avail, I will take another, and yet another.”

~ Og Mandino

“You can trick yourself into doing things
by doing it one step at a time,
and never letting yourself see the overall picture.”

~ Robyn Davidson

“The most difficult thing is the decision to act,
the rest is merely tenacity.
The fears are paper tigers.
You can do anything you decide to do.
You can act to change and control your life;
and the procedure, the process is its own reward.”

~ Amelia Earhart

“When a path opens up before us that leads we know not where,
don’t be afraid to follow it.
Our lives are meant to be mysterious journeys,
unfolding one step at a time.
Often we follow a path worn smooth by the many.
and in doing so we lose our authenticity,
our individuality, our own unique expression.
Do not be afraid to lose your way.
Out of chaos, clarity will eventually rise.
Out of not knowing, something new and unknown
will ultimately come.
Do not order things too swiftly.
Wait, and the miracle will appear.”

~ Ann Mortifee