What a powerful question! This coffee mug with the simple question on it was given to me nearly a year ago by a dear friend as I was embarking upon a new chapter in my life, leaving corporate America to take a personal sabbatical year. Overwhelmed and overworked, this simple question prompted me to spring ahead and think about the real and profound impact the present (TODAY) has on my future.
How many times do we say things like:
“Someday I want to…” or
"One of these days I’m going to…” or
“If only I could _____, then I would be able to _____.”
The harsh reality is that someday never really comes. We are not guaranteed to see tomorrow, let alone “someday.” Not every idea, goal, or bucket list item can be realistically accomplished today, but intentional progress towards your goals and dreams can be made. It often just starts with some bona fide quiet contemplation and personal reflection.
As the popular saying goes, “Hope is not a strategy.” When is the last time you allowed yourself to have 30 minutes to just think about your future? Asking yourself questions like:
What is my heart’s greatest desire?
Where am I feeling led?
What will it take for me to get there?
What are the specific milestones I need to take to get there?
How can I break those milestones down into specific action steps?
Frequently, big goals, dreams, and personal transformation take a lot of effort, energy, and time. It can all be a little overwhelming to consider and your goals may seem too far out of reach. But I want to challenge you to pick something that is very important to your future and your quality of life, then break it down to the smallest of steps. As Kathi Lipp and Cheri Gregory say in their book Overwhelmed: How to Quiet the Chao and Restore your Sanity, micro-steps involve breaking tasks (not projects) down into their smallest units possible. For example, if one of your tasks towards a goal of starting your own business is to start a blog, possible micro steps might include:
Brainstorm a list of people you know who are active bloggers
Google "Best Blogging Platform"
Send a text to one blogger you personally know to ask if they would be willing to talk to you about how they started their blog
List possible names for your blog
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