Here’s a guest post from my friend and mountain guide extraordinaire Sarah Maliphant. There’s a link at the end to an extraordinary offer….well worth a look if you want some time for yourself.
The moment that made the difference to my career direction and vocation was a question. This question found the way through my mountain-sized uncertainties, a good smatter of insecurities, a dream that felt too big to dare, and a host of, “Yes but…” practical details. Suddenly all that stuff could be in my head, and there was a doorway through it too.
Too often, a goal, dream or desire to give more stays tucked up small and safe because at the start, we can’t see all the steps that will get us to the end result. I stalled in that mindset for many years. I found it *&{f2259cb46dcb1430efd101bad4e704c2e9271840799215b7836ec2b429f8b5c6}{f2259cb46dcb1430efd101bad4e704c2e9271840799215b7836ec2b429f8b5c6}£! frustrating!!!
When exactly did we develop the belief that before we start something, we have to anticipate every step through to completion?!!
Sure, there are some things for which that degree of planning is wise, especially where safety is concerned. But a Perfectly Complete Plan is not essential in every aspect of life – it’s not essential for your career, fulfilling your dreams, starting new relationships, bringing up children or getting out of a bad situation. In fact, awaiting the full plan can stall you. A broad plan is enough.
If you’re feeling stuck, all of these situations can start to shift by just taking the next step that you can see. Like climbing a mountain, each step changes the information available to you, choices become more obvious. Having taken a step you may sometimes turn back because of what you’ve found out, or you may continue. Either way, you are more sure of yourself when you move. Certainty comes from movement and exploration, with some thinking and planning. Not vice versa.
So, back to that life changing question… What was so powerful that all of my (excellent!) reasons why I couldn’t start to pursue a Big Dream suddenly melted away?
I was asked:
“What step can you take?”
Five words… and they helped me break through the limitations I perceived – but were not as insurmountable as I thought:
Finance: If you don’t have the funds to own all that you need, what can you borrow, exchange, or rent?
Decision making: If you don’t know whether you like something enough to go for a big lifestyle change, what can you try out for real whilst still keeping your current lifestyle safe?
Time: If you don’t have time to do everything, which bit could you do? Which bits could you get someone to help with?
Uncertainty: If you’re not sure something will work, how can you safely test it out? If you don’t know how to do something, what can you learn first?
If you are standing still on top of a dream that means a lot to you, take a look around. Do you want to stay there forever? Or do you want to nudge slowly forwards?
What step can you take?
Sarah Maliphant runs Mountain Retreats in a peaceful valley in the beautiful Brecon Beacons. She provides a calm, nurturing, down to earth escape with plenty of humour, home cooked meals, cake, massage, coaching and gently paced walks.
Find out more here about Sarah’s crazy June farm offer!
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This is a very empowering article and I really agree with “Each step changes the information available to you, choices become more obvious.” I found this out with writing – that you can head off on a plot without knowing the end. But it is good for life too! Thank you Sarah.