On progress you may not notice

I cut my hair yesterday. It’s about 3 inches shorter. It’s likely no one will notice, though; my hair was down to the small of my back and it still is. 

But I feel it. It’s already a bit healthier and lighter. 

Little steps are like that. We don't need to make a big change in order to start feeling better about ourselves, put ourselves in a better place, or cultivate a healthy habit. In fact, big changes are really difficult for our schedules and bodies. We can dream big dreams; certainly, a solid dream of our future that is non-negotiable is a powerful motivator and focuses our path.

Still, little steps make a powerful entry. Think of the dripping sink. Just minutes later, we will find that it has filled a glass full. That realization instigates tightening the faucet for most people. 

Let's take an example for ourselves. If we wish to exercise more but have not because we feel strained for time, adding a trip to the gym is not likely to stick with us because it will constrain our hours more. As much as the feeling we get after exercise may help our mood, the stress of the cramped schedule and the momentum of that feeling may override the gym trip. Still, we have a dream that is non-negotiable. 

If instead, we start to incorporate movement into our day as part of our travels, we will need to do so in a way that won't require a great deal of extra time in order for it to work. We may begin by parking our car further away in the parking garage or lot - this may even afford us a moment of air and birds by a river or a couple of trees. If we have our phone on us, it will track these steps. We can also take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.

This simple act will not add time but may add pleasure to our day and a small number of steps that will add up. We may enjoy the walk so much that we park a block away a couple of weeks later. We would not notice the difference in ourselves immediately; no exhaustion, no stress. Yet at the end of the month, we certainly will be a little more light in our step and firm in our musculature. By the time the next weekend rolls around, we may even be up for a hike.

Make no mistake - the dream of greater mobility and fitness is non-negotiable. Just that is an incredible motivator. Yet when money is tight and time is at a minimum, having no accountability but one's own motivation can be difficult. Small steps are light and free. The commitment is whole, yet not daunting. Like my hair, you won't look very different at first, nor will you feel stressed by the change, but you will feel as if you are doing something for yourself that feels good and that no one can take away from you. That's the feeling of small steps.

So what is your big, non-negotiable dream? What small step can you add to your day that will be part of the lifestyle of the person you will become? ♥