Small Beginnings for Big Changes

“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.”

― James Clear, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones 

Beginnings of Change

Beginnings can be difficult and at the same time exciting.  They can be a bit scary and be a wonderful opportunity.  To make a change, there must be a new beginning and an ending. It's a simple fact!  Let me break it down in a basic way for now.

You are a result of how you spend your time.  To make a change, you need to:

• First become aware of where you are and what you are actually doing.  If you keep doing the same things, your direction can never change.
• The next step is to understand where you do want to be going.
• And finally, take small steps in that direction.
• BONUS: If you get overwhelmed when looking at the large distance from where you are compared to where you want to be, remind yourself to take one small step at a time.

Sounds simple, right?  Read on for a more detailed approach to beginning to make big changes.  Check out this mindful tip as Les discusses making a change.

Here is a recent journal entry that I contemplated beginnings:

“As I begin to write, I stare warily at the blank page of my journal.  I turn the pen in my fingers, not writing.  Stalling, dragging my feet, procrastinating. Scared, but about what?  What is it about this blank page, the act of beginning to write that causes this pause?

What is it about the beginning of something new that seems so daunting?

Why is it so difficult to get started with something new?

It feels as if I need to let go of something old, well-worn within me, some important part of me, to start something new.  I fear I must release some part of me that’s keeping me stuck.  But that’s not exactly true.  Those well-worn parts of me have led me to this beginning.  They are still part of me, yet they do not have to define my new beginning.  I have a say in how I start.

In the case of writing, each time I write words on a page, they don’t have to be the same words from the page before, or the perfect new words, or like someone else’s words to be good or right.  And writing something different doesn’t erase what has been written before.

To begin new is an opportunity.  It is a privilege.  It is a joy, and I am grateful to begin new.  I am grateful for this freedom.

This blank page, haunting me as I begin, is a reminder to be brave, and give my courage to this beautiful new opportunity. 

This blank page, so seemingly big and vast is a lesson in patience, knowing that in time it will fill.  The lines will come alive with the power and energy of words.

This blank page, with it’s many available lines is a reminder to pause, breathe, look inward and connect with myself ad I invite the words and ideas to be a conduit for my healing and the healings of any readers.”

Small Beginnings Can Make Big Changes

As the quote above suggests, “The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision.”  A small change can, over time, make a big difference in the direction of your path.  What decision are you ready to make?  What habit are you ready to form?

Let me give you an example to consider.  If you decide you want to improve your sleep and add 15 minutes of sleep every night, that equates to just over 90 hours of additional sleep in one year.  That same 15 minutes could be applied to exercise, meditation, or learning a new skill.  The point is that is only 15 minutes, and it can make a big difference.

If you decide to reduce 15 minutes of television or from your commute, you are gaining time to do the things you want more of in your life.  And while it seems like a simple math equation, the sum of the addition of positive and the subtraction of negative is a much greater gain for your life overall.

The decision to make a small change can have a significant shift in your over all trajectory.  What would your life be like if you decided to study something different at school or a different trade?  What might your life be like if you chose a different significant other?  I am not saying you should consider these past decisions to regret your past, simply to understand that one decision has a continuous effect.

This can be easily understood in the case of driving a car.  Let’s say you start in Texas going north.  A small shift to the east and you may end up in Wisconsin.  Or a small shift to the west and you would end up in Montana in the same amount of time.  The end destination is very different in these two scenarios.

How to Decide What Change to Make

Now you may have a better understanding about what a small shift has the power to change in your life.  Then you may begin wondering what small adjustment you should make in your life to get to where you want to go.

The first step is understanding what is important to you.  You must know what your values are.  You probably wouldn’t set out on a road trip without having a specific destination.  Like the example above, you can see that a small adjustment in direction at the beginning of a journey makes a huge difference in final location.

If you have never considered your values or what’s important to you, (perhaps you have been living on auto-pilot) I would invite you to do a bit of soul-searching.  I recommend setting aside a hour or so, do a bit of relaxing movement, practice a self-inquiry meditation, and take out paper and pen to consider some of the following questions:

• If there were no barriers, nothing getting in your way, what would your life look like?
• What are the non-negotiable parts of your life?
• Setting aside money, time, and location, what would always be the same in your life?
• What is important to you?
• What are your values?
• What is your purpose in life?
• What brings you joy? Lights you up?
• What are you most passionate about?

Know that you don’t need to live your life on autopilot, just going through the motions of a life that doesn’t satisfy you fully.  You can choose what is important to you.  You can choose how you want to feel every day!  You can get clear on what you want your life to be.  More about making a change in this article.

In this mindful tip, Les discusses how to use your values to make small shifts in how you interact with others, treat yourself, and how you make decisions.

Don’t Wait Any Longer

We only have one life to live, and we all want to get the most out of it.  Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, so we need to make the most of today.  Maybe you want to quit smoking or drinking.  Maybe you want to get out of debt.  Maybe you desire a loving, healthy relationship.  Maybe you are ready to leave your job or move out of the area.  Maybe you want to travel more.  Maybe you want to start loving yourself unconditionally and enjoy self-trust.  Whatever it is that you desire, make the choice today to take a step, even the smallest step forward in the direction of what you want.

We are Here to Guide you to Uncover Your Values

I invite you to learn more about our 6-week program, Move and Meditate: Self Care You Deserve for a Lifetime. Our next group is forming now with two meeting options.

To clarify your values and make the change you desire, it’s crucial to continue getting education, guidance, support, and accountability. In this next-level offering, you’ll gain access to:

• Weekly group coaching calls so you can address and troubleshoot your barriers, ask questions about movement sequences or meditation prompts, and get customized support in your journey.
• A like-minded community with similar goals so you can lean in and make connections with other friendly people on the movement and meditation path.
• Self-study online education course, so you can deepen your knowledge on your own time.
• One full year of the Membership Oasis, packed with weekly fresh and ad-free content targeted to what’s most relevant for you right now

This offering is for you if you are hungry for more depth, self-knowledge, practice support, and continued results.

It’s also for you if you are ready to make a change, but perhaps feel stuck about what direction to take.

We know many of you have been following us for years. If your still stuck in failure, indecision, "not enoughness," this offering is the catalyst for change.  YOU are worth the time, effort, and investment. Join the group today.

I look forward to the opportunity to serve you at a deeper level, and to help you usher in more of the goodness you’ve experienced in our time together so far.

I hope to see you in the group program.  Let me know how I can support you.

RELATED RESOURCES:

• Beliefs are the Missing Link to Change
• The Benefits of a Journaling Practice
• Discipline as a Form of Self-Care
• The Catalyst for Transformation
• Find your Purpose
• The Key to Making a Change
• Five Steps to Creating your Dream Life

With love and gratitude,

Sara and Les

The Mindful Movement