Branches Seeds

You may call them goals, desires, or maybe callings. Others may call them ambitions or aspirations. Whatever you call them, we all have them deep inside ourselves. Sometimes they settle to the bottom, covered over by layers seemingly impossible to clear away. Other times, they bubble to the surface, a gentle reminder that they are still there, waiting for you.

In those moments when they rise to the surface, how do you greet them? Do you dismiss them as unrealistic? Do you tell yourself it’s not worth trying? Or do you welcome them to see where they could lead? So many times, our minds jump from the idea of an aspiration directly to what we hope the end result will be. We get discouraged because we find it difficult to imagine how we can even begin to get to the end result, and so we push it down. We force it back to the bottom and work to cover it over again, sometimes hoping it will go away. 

Today, I would like to invite you to take a different approach. The next time that aspiration bubbles to the surface, consider it a guide, someone inviting you down a path. While you may have an idea of where you would like the path will end, stay focused on the adventure of the journey. Like walking down a path in the woods where you cannot see what is beyond the next bend, take a moment to enjoy the dappled light and snapping twigs beneath your feet as you explore. 

Perhaps your desire is to own your own business or improve your physical health or to be more patient with your children. Whatever it is deep inside you that you keep coming back to, start with small steps. What small thing can you do today to begin this adventure? Can you read one article about starting a business? Can you take a ten-minute walk? Can you focus on being present in the moment with your children for 15 minutes? It is easier to get back up after falling from a single step than it is after falling from the roof of a two-story house. When we jump to focusing on our desired end result, our own expectations are often what get in the way. We worry about what other people will think. We fear that we will not measure up to the expectations we have placed upon ourselves. When we focus on the journey and on taking small steps, the weight of those expectations becomes lighter. 

Tell me, what small step will you take today on your path? 

I look forward to hearing from you, and remember, be gentle with yourself.