“How do you eat the elephant? One bite at a time.”
Not long ago, I was working with a group of adolescents in an acute inpatient psychiatric hospital. Most of the kids, regardless of their problems, had goals for the future, but had no idea how to pursue them. They did not know where to start. To some of these kids, a very realistic goal such as earning a bachelor’s degree seemed as far-fetched as winning the mega millions in the lottery. Many had come from extremely abusive homes and were now living in their fifth, sixth, or seventh foster home.
Kesha, a thirteen year old girl, who had been removed from her home at the age of nine due to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, was now living in her third foster home. This young girl did not know what stability felt like, but she did have goals. She loved animals and wanted to someday be a veterinarian. During group one day at the hospital, I asked her what she needed to do in order to become a veterinarian. “Go to vet school,” she replied. I then asked her what she needed to do to go to vet school. “Go to college,” she answered. “What do you need to do to go to college?” I continued. “Graduate from high school,” she answered without hesitation. And finally, “What do you need to do to graduate from high school?” I questioned. “I need to go to school and do my homework,” Kesha replied. “Then all you need to do right now is to go to school and do your homework,” I remarked.
By doing this, I was helping Kesha break her dream down into small manageable parts-baby steps. If Kesha wanted to be a veterinarian, she did not need to worry about anything right now other than going to school and completing her homework. This would create positive momentum in her life. This would get her snowballing in a positive direction. She was taking the first step toward her future career right now.
What are your long term goals? Will you let their magnitude overwhelm you or will you start on the road to achieving them by simply taking that first step, however small? Focus only on what you can do today and in this moment.
I believe that you are capable of building positive momentum in your life by taking it one step at a time; do you?
Related Posts:
“5 Tips to Improve Your Life”- https://thesnowballeffect.com/5-tips-to-improve-your-life/
“The 3 W’s to Goal Achievement”- https://thesnowballeffect.com/the-3-ws-to-goal-achievement/
“Facing Fear”- https://thesnowballeffect.com/facing-fear/
What a timely post! I’m painting the exterior of the house and at times am overwhelmed by the job. I think one step at a time is a good way to tackle it. Today I did a small section. Tomorrow I’ll do another. It’s when I think of the whole job that it seems too much, but thinking only about a section at a time works better.
Yes. Breaking it down really helps. We can get so much accomplished this way. Thanks for sharing. Happy painting one baby step at a time. You will get there. 🙂
I have some difficulty getting some of my clients to stay focused on today, we even write down the action steps like going to school and doing homework but then its back to the elephant is too big. You might have already discussed this but what do you tell people who only want to eat the elephant in one day?
I tell them that it is like putting pieces of a puzzle together. We will just work on one piece today and that is it! If they only focus on that one thing today, we will do one thing tomorrow. I remind them that the puzzle will eventually come together, but not yet. It is not time. This teaches patience and perseverance. So many things take patience. Thank you for your great question. Hope this helps. xoxo Kristin
Love the visual of a puzzle! I might actually get a craft puzzle and let them draw on the pieces to represent each “step” that needs to be completed! THANK YOU!!!!
You are so welcome!
Great post! I use a very similar approach with some of my coaching clients. Although experienced, some of them want to leap when all they can do is to take one little step at the time. Very helpful approach to anyone when the challenge seems too large!
Patience and perseverance! Thanks for your comments on this.
This made me smile. I just had a similar conversation with my daughter. This is actually a great reminder for all of us.
I am glad it made you smile. That makes me smile. Have a great day! 🙂
Awesome! I love this. Thanks Kristin.
Thanks:)
Kristen, oh, yes! I definitely believe the incredible power of taking one small step in the direction of one’s dream! Thanks for the reminder!
I am learning to play the violin and focusing on each lesson at a time without concerning myself about the upcoming lessons. It’s working great. When I used to focus too much on the end result of a goal I usually failed or took too long from redoing previous steps. Now I prefer being in the present without expectations of the future.
I started learning Argentine tango a few months ago, so right now, everything is a metaphor that relates to it… it’s certainly true in dancing that everything has to happen one step at a time— that’s the only way to progress, whether it’s across a dance floor, through a difficult day, or through my life as a whole.