The Easiest, Most Powerful Way To Do Big Things: Start Small

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, talks about starting with the smallest possible action on the way to big things. As he says, ‘your life bends in the direction of your habits’.

I need to lower my blood pressure and I’d like to do it without going on blood pressure medicine if I can.

In consultation with my doctor about ways to go about this, she flatly told me, ‘You already know the right things to do’.

Right.

So why am I not doing them? Because it feels too big. Luckily I have the exercise down and I bought myself a home monitoring system to check my blood pressure twice daily. But I need to drop some weight, which means eating better, lowering my salt intake, cutting out the sweets.

And that all sounds overwhelming, and more than a little bit depressing, if I’m honest.

‘Changes that seem small and unimportant at first, will compound into remarkable results if  you’re willing to stick with them for years.’, say James.

So rather than try to cut out sweets forever, I’m starting with one day. Can I cut out sweets for today? Yes, yes I can.

And then I’ll try it for another day. I’m pretty sure I can manage it one day at a time.

Try this ONE thing

What change can you make by breaking it down to the smallest possible thing you can start now?

Want to experience coaching? I like to start with a deep, get-to-know-you conversation to see if we are right for each other. Sometimes we talk for one or two hours at no charge. I have no goal except to bring about transformation. Together we work on the lies, the self-deception, and the fears of the power you perceive to be outside yourself. We work on your difficulties in making decisions and your inability thus far to make bold choices in life and to follow through and trust yourself completely to do so.

The irony for some people is that the very thing that they want the coaching for (an indecisive, half-hearted life) is what’s keeping them from deciding whether to get coaching.

When you’re ready, reach out @ karen.laidlaw.theONEthing@outlook.com. Meanwhile, enjoy the blog!