One Day at a Time
It's hard to believe that 2014 is literally almost here. I'm creating my goals for the new year, and of course I'm looking at the big picture, but I'm also stepping back and focusing on smaller increments.
Alcoholics Anonymous has a very powerful saying: One day at a time. If you tell an alcoholic, "You can never, ever have a drink again," or even, "You have to stop drinking for a while year," he's going to feel overwhelmed. It will sound impossible to him, which is a mental set-up for failure.
Instead, if you tell him, "You just have to go this one day without a drink," it sounds a lot more manageable. Then you add one more day...and one more...and eventually you have 365 days of success. If there's a slip-up on one of those days, it's not an excuse to go back to old behaviors. Instead, you just restart with the very next day.
In that same way, it sounds overwhelming to hit myself with an ambitious annual income figure without breaking it down into smaller parts, too. If things are slow to build with my website sales, it's too easy to look at that end of year goal, throw up my hands, and say, "I'm never going to do it!" That gives me an excuse to quit.
However, if I have monthly, or even weekly, goals, I can focus on those and congratulate myself for each one that I achieve. It's nice to have that frequent positive reinforcement.
If I miss one of the short-term goals, the amount doesn't seem so overwhelming. I can simply regroup and make a plan to make it up the next week or month.
It's always good to keep the big picture in mind because it can be very inspiring. It can also get in the way of success, so I always know my ultimate goal and also the small steps it will take to get there. One day at a time in 2014 will lead to big things by the end of next year.
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I agree one day at a time and one task at a time. I felt overwhelmed by my next lesson and had to review the task at hand, breaking it down into smaller steps until I complete the whole task. one step, one task, one day at a time. I have always looked at each task as impossible until recently. It's a mental challenge everyday but I know with the help I have here that nothing is impossible now. I wish I could like this blog a million times. Thanks for the info. and encouragement.
Makes a lot of sense to me since for the last 18 years I've tried to live by those principles in my life. It is for sure the best way to avoid a lot of the traps out there in a world that is only getting "busier and busier" and where the only rewards that matters seems to be "the instant ones".
As far as living is concerned it always works better for me when I slow down, and try to be conscious to live in "the moment" or "the now"......the only real life I actually have. Thanks for sharing Barb, and I wish you "tons" of peaceful and serene moment in 2014.
Hi Barb,
Great point that you are making here! It's very important, as I've found out, to make goals and break them down into a step by step process for each day, week, and month. Taking them a day at a time makes them much more achievable and less overwhelming no matter what goals you may have...eventually you get to your main goal that you are trying to achieve. Thanks for sharing! :) -Sherry
Barb, that is a great post with needed information for most of us. We want to see the end result before we start the journey. We must have mile markers to guide us along the way. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Barb - that's an interesting perspective. In my 9-5 - I normally have to think about the big picture, and rely on my direct reports implementing the detailed planning - but within WA, I expect many of us are in this on our own - and have no manager, or employees to help get to the end goal. So having to think about the big picture, and the detail is absolutely key for most of us.
Thanks for the insight into your way of thinking - I think it helps others (me) a lot, knowing how other people manage and think, in this business.
All the best, Mark
Hi Barb, you are so right about breaking goals up. It's the same as "How do you eat an elephant?" - Answer: one bite at a time
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Awesome post!