Are you discouraged? Facing a complicated task? Does a goal you set for yourself suddenly seem unattainable? Your current situation may feel overwhelming. Take heart, it isn't. Please be encouraged, you can handle what is in front of you. During my time in insurance sales, I was able attain or exceed the quota I was assigned by reminding myself that I could accomplish goals if I would “eat the elephant one small bite at a time.” When I focused on the big number, I became stressed and my progress stopped. My health suffered, too. This concept works for our personal issues too. Commit to making one small change, taking a step, even if it's a tiny one, toward your target. You will begin to see things move in the right direction if you are consistent and remain positive. Keep your focus on the "one thing" at hand, while acknowledging the end result you desire. Once each step is complete, focus on the next one.
Your tiny step can be something as simple as keeping a Bible verse or affirmation (3X5 card) in your pocket to help lift your spirits. Reading and journaling a Bible verse or chapter at the end of the day can be refreshing too. Bonus: this will also bring you closer to God. Perhaps your self-esteem is low. Remember, you are highly valued! How about taking a moment to pamper yourself with a two minute foot rub before bed? In sales, one more sales call added to the beginning or end of your day can make a huge difference. If you are a writer, set a timer and focus on journaling/scribbling for five minutes (even if you write "I am a highly skilled writer," over and over) before tackling writer’s block. This may be what is needed to get your creativity flowing. If you have a cleaning or organizing task you have procrastinated on, how about setting a timer for five minutes? Focus on one drawer (or a corner of one, if it seems too overwhelming). Celebrate your progress, then keep moving forward.
Speaking of clutter, sometimes the first step to take in cleaning an area of your home is clearing the clutter and negative noise from your mindset! If we are frazzled, the task before us may seem larger than it really is. I'll post more about this in the future.
Here is a good verse to ponder if you are feeling overwhelmed:
Ps 61:2 (NKJV)
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
It often becomes necessary to remove a small obstacle from our paths. Let me explain.
You may think one small task/object can’t make a difference. Yes, it can. See the photo of the little rock in my hand? That tiny thing was in my shoe. I felt a small irritation near my ankle and kept walking. After all, I told myself, “I am busy.” I was in a hurry, with important places to get to. Since it felt like a small thing, I didn’t think it was a big deal and left it alone. Within a half hour of rushing around, this tiny rock shifted and became a big deal. What I thought was a tiny pebble quickly turned into what felt like a razor sharp boulder, I knew I had blister to deal with. It took me 30 seconds to remove my shoe and get the rock out! I felt instant relief, and also embarrassment because I knew I should have removed it before it caused discomfort. Later on, I had to take time to clean and put a bandage on two blisters because of the irritation. I put the pebble in my pocket and now have it on my desk as a reminder: Something small can become something “big” if it is not taken care of right away.
Question: Is there a pebble of negativity or a habit that you need to remove from your shoe? If so, can you replace it with a positive step and keep walking toward your goal?
If we take a small step in the right direction, we will see big results over time. These results will be multiplied if we remove negative thoughts and distractions in the process.
Sometimes we don’t do that one small thing we know would make us feel better. I know I am guilty of this. I make excuses—my most common one is thinking that I am too busy to take care of my emotional and physical health. I tell myself, “I don’t have time” to do whatever it is. In the long run, not making important yet tiny changes (adding or removing something) could end up costing more time and, and in the example above, pain.
All my best,
Tammy Arlene