Baby Steps Part One

Have you dropped your New Year’s Resolutions already? Or are you pressing on? Maybe you don’t set goals because you know they won’t come to pass?

Our family loves the movie “What About Bob” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3JPa2mvSQ4  Bob learns that future success awaits him; he decides to follow the “Baby Steps” philosophy prescribed by his Psychiatrist. Yes, it’s a funny movie scene, but when I watch Poor Bob, I see a nugget of Psychology that makes sense. I find when looking at an entire goal, project or assignment I become overwhelmed. You too?  Dr. Leo Marvin knows Bob has a LONG way to go towards his mental health healing. Instead of tackling it all at once, the doc encourages Bob to take one tiny step at a time.

I’m a resolutions kinda gal. I’ve been a planner and list-maker since childhood.

But I’ve resolved to do resolutions differently this time. I’ve made small, measurable goals instead of throwing out lofty hopes that may or may not come to fruition by the end of the year. Baby steps.

Are you a goal-oriented person? Maybe you are more casual and like to ride the waves of life instead of telling them how to get to the shore. Either way, we all have dreams and heart-filled plans don’t we? Something we’d love to see happen or even need to see happen? Perhaps it’s a broken relationship healed? A chunk of debt chiseled away? A successful step in your weight-loss journey? Or even tackling that ridiculously junked-out closet?

Yet, how do we get there?

Start by picking just one area of your life needing change. I know, you have more than one. So do I.

“The First requisite for success is to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly without growing weary.” ~Thomas Edison

These last thirty days, my one focus has been on clean eating. Specific goal: 80% of my diet will consist of unprocessed, organic, real food. Before I began, I had to ask myself some questions. I urge you to do the same.

Questions:

• What is my ONE thing? 
• Why is it important that I choose this goal at this time?
• Do I sense God’s prompting here?
• If I meet this goal, what impact will it have on my life? On the lives of those I love?
• Why haven’t I had success in this area?
• What (or who?) is holding me back?

Many of us struggle with procrastination and laziness. Just yesterday, I had a pathetic conversation with a friend where both of us listed the many reasons we hadn’t cleaned our closets. We covered all the bases in Excuse Land.

But what is at the core of our excuses? Especially  when we know the Lord is nudging us towards His best for us (which may or may not include cleaning out closets). Nudging us to trust him. Nudging us to step out in faith for Him.

Take some time to think about these questions. Reflect on where you are today and how much progress can happen in  one day, one week, and one year from now in this area. Time passes in a blink and no one is going to come along and complete our mission for us.

Friends, we are here on purpose and for a purpose.

 The verse on top of this post assures us that He makes firm our steps. Even when we stumble, He holds us up. God points us in the right direction.

Join me “next time” as we tackle Baby Step Number 1 and beyond in Part Two.

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