If you get overwhelmed by all the goals you set for yourself maybe it is time to take a different approach to them.

Have you ever thought of taking baby steps?

Instead of looking at the goal as a whole we can break each goal down into small, easily achieved “baby steps.” This can help to free us up and get us into action, building upon each small success until we achieve our goal.

My friend Debbie wants to get her home office cleaned up.

She knows a clean office will help her to find things more quickly. For her it will become a peaceful haven rather than a place that adds more stress to her already busy life.

However at the moment the thought of even attempting to organize causes her to feel stressed and overwhelmed.

Let’s follow along and see how finding the baby step will get her into action.

Step 1 What is your goal?
My goal is that I want to get my home office organized.

Step 2 What are the specific things you need to get done to achieve this goal?
Bills put away
Filing system and papers sorted
Re-organize wardrobe space for storage
Sort through books I no longer need

Step 3 What is the first tiny step that you can take?
Well I have a bunch of old papers that are not used and are taking up space in the filing cabinet. So if I got rid of those I would have more space for the papers that are all over my desk right now.

Step 4 How will you know you have successfully taken this first step?
My office desktop will be spotless and I will feel relaxed when I sit there.

Step 5 Achievable –Can it be done?
Yes it can be done.

Step 6 Reasonable – What may get in the way based on time, resources or money?
How realistic is your plan?
I may get overwhelmed. I do not have the time. I may get called away by the kids.
But if I put the time marked in my calendar while the kids are at school then I know it will get done.
Also when I play music I feel great so I will do that while I am sorting so I will not feel overwhelmed.

Step 7 Time oriented – When will you do this?
I will be able to do it on Wednesday for 1 hour from 10.00-11.00am. If I want to keep going after that I will but for now I am committing to one hour.

Step 8 Accountability – Insurance for yourself.
I will commit to my best friend that I am going to do this and will also text her when I am done.

Step 9 Celebrate your success!
After I text my friend I will buy myself a bunch of my favorite flowers.

Step 10 Keeping your perspective
Staying in gratitude can take the pressure off as well. After all, in the larger scheme of things it is a quality problem Debbie is dealing with. She has an office and she gets to organize it!

Repeat this process and create a new action step each time. Setting yourself up for success is much more motivating than setting unrealistic goals.

All of your endeavors not matter how big they may seem can be approached in this same “baby step” way.

Even if you just spend five minutes a day taking one baby step those actions will add up to complete your goal more quickly than taking no action at all.

Enjoy

Julie-Anne

In my experience one of the biggest obstacles to peoples creative success is thinking that they, all on their own are responsible for their creativity. That they somehow are solely accountable for the gifts and talents they have been given. This way of thinking can be overwhelming and effectively paralyzing for many artists.

It is my belief that if we view ourselves as the means by which the universe works through us. Then it takes our ego and the “Its all about us” out of the equation. Freeing us up to both pursue and tap into our greatest source for our creative expression.

As an actor you allow emotions to flow through you so that you allow others to connect to theirs. A singer brings joy to all those who hear her. A writer connects to their own greatness so that others may also learn and enjoy more. A manager partners with clients to help them reach the audience that needs them. And so on.

So if you are pursuing your creative dream today. Try remembering it is actually not all about you. It is about allowing the universe to work through you so that you can serve the people that need to hear, see and feel what you create.

Enjoy
Julie-Anne

It seems that in our current environment no matter how much we achieve it is never enough. When I have X amount of dollars in my back account. Then that will be enough. But the truth is, if you do not believe that you have enough right now, no matter how much you accumulate or achieve, it will never be enough.

The Never Enough Syndrome is not cured by trying to be filled up from the outside in. It is an inside-out job. The great thing is that right now you can be and have enough. The challenging thing is to believe that right now you can be and have enough.

And the irony is in accepting this truth it does not mean you will not achieve and accumulate more; in fact the opposite will be true.

If you want to get off the treadmill of perpetual wanting ask yourself, “What can I do today to be filled up with the priceless gift of feeling like I am and have enough?”

How would you behave in your life today and what choices would you make if you had and were enough?

Good, do and be that!

Enjoy
Julie-Anne