When I read these lines, it reminds me of how often in the past I used to go around in a half-awake stupor, doing what I had to do just to get through the day. And what a waste of precious time it was; I wasn’t brave or confident enough to see what mattered to me, and take steps to start creating change. In fact at the time, I thought that would be an impossibility.
Now wouldn’t it be wonderful if we start thinking right now of what lights us up, whether the rest of the world agrees or not. And then decide what one small thing we can make a pact with ourselves to start doing. Doesn’t matter if you have all the skills or time or tools, just start.
Find an accountability person to check in on your progress, promise yourself you will attach your new habit/behavior to something you already do in order to make it easier, or just sit for five minutes each day imagining what it would be like to have this in your life, and let yourself feel the excitement of making it happen.
When I founded my non-profit to help pay emergency veterinary bills for those who can’t afford to get their sick or injured animals to a veterinarian, I had no idea what would actually happen, I just knew it would materialize if I had faith in myself and kept plodding along. Our Nevada branch is now in its 20th year, and the Florida branch is in its second year. I’m definitely not uniquely skilled or talented, I just did one thing at a time and kept on moving forward.
What a wonderful gift to give yourself this holiday season, deciding that now is the time to take a step in the direction that fires you up. It’s never one big idea that moves progress forward and lights up the world, it’s many small steps by passionate people, that ultimately make the difference.
When do you plan to start?
