You Can Only Ever Take One Step at a Time
But each step gets you from here to there.
One of my favorite phrases comes from Lao Tzu. It’s this:
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
But to some degree I prefer this alternative translation:
“The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one’s feet.”
In both instances, the notion is that to get from any Point A to Point B, you must take steps. Every. Single. Individual. Step. Counts.
It’s impossible to get from anywhere to anywhere else without movement. While that might take any number of different forms, the premise remains the same. You need to take a step.
The problem with this, however, is that society tends to focus on the end goals. Big finishes. Achievements. Accomplishments. Never mind what it took to get from A to B. It’s all about reaching B. What that ignores is that to get to B from A, you must take one step at a time.
Even when you leap, you start with one step. And while some steps will be more important and meaningful than others, every single step, one step at a time, matters on the paths you choose.
Why is this important?
Last night, here in the United States, the elections flipped our Congress. This is great, because things have been going in a decidedly disconcerting direction. However, this is just one step.
Many people will expect near-instantaneous change. That won’t be the case. This is the first step. And those who won the elections won’t step into their new roles for a couple of months. After that, another step.
We all hope they will do the things we elected them to do, take the actions necessary to start fixing the massive damage being inflicted on the country. But it will only work one step at a time.
I’m writing about this because we all need to understand that it’s going to take some time for the new Congress to be effective. And we all hope they won’t waste energy reconciling with those who have done us such harm. That they will step forward to undo the damage, punish those who violated the law, and redirect the country for the good of the many. All of that, however, can only be done one step at a time.
This example is all about the big picture. It’s easy to look at the big picture because you’re bombarded by it all the time. Yet you and I have ZERO control in this arena. (If you voted, and I hope you did, you exerted the one iota of control that you have.)
Recognizing and acknowledging one step at a time at the level of the big picture opens you to recognizing and acknowledging it for yourself.
One step at a time applies to you and me
When you choose any given path in life, you can only start to walk it one step at a time. This, however, can feel like utter bullshit.
So many examples of people who achieved greatness seemingly overnight are held up to us. That author whose first novel was a global bestseller. The actor who was discovered at a diner. That investor who made millions in their first stock trade. The self-made man who succeeded against all odds in the blink of an eye.
All of these, with very few exceptions, are told with bits excluded. Specifically, the one step that started them on the path. That author took the first step by sitting down and writing. The next step was finishing, the next step publishing, and so on. That actor had to learn their part, perform for the camera over and over again during hours of filming, then another day of the same, and so on. The investor took the first step by learning how to invest, the next by likely getting a degree, then the next by finding the money to invest, and so on. The self-made man began with one step to leave where he was to get where he is.
Sure, there is that 1 in a million exception to this. But a million is a big number. That means 999,999 other people only got from Point A to Point B by taking one step to start it all.
Hoping and praying to be that 1 in a million exception does you a disservice. It disempowers you. Because all the steps you take, from the first to the next to the last, start with empowerment. And being empowered isn’t given to anyone from without. It starts within you.
One step to another is an inside job
You will have teachers, influencers, guides, and others in your life that can help you to become empowered. That’s part of why I share these posts. But they can’t and don’t empower you. That’s on you. Or more specifically, it’s in you.
You have the power to make choices and decisions about who, what, where, how, and why you are or will be. Making them is how you become empowered. That empowerment, making choices and decisions, is the one step that starts you on any path in life.
To be fair, this is more challenging for some than others. If you have any degree of privilege, you will have it easier. But no matter where you come from, no path can be walked without starting with one single step.
How do you begin? It starts with being present, here and now, and engaging your conscious awareness. This is done by recognizing and acknowledging your immediate surroundings via your 6 senses. Then, you look inside yourself, view your mindset/headspace/psyche, and ascertain what you’re thinking, what and how you’re feeling, what your intentions are, whether your approach is positive or negative, and what you’re doing (what actions you are taking).
From there, if you so desire, you can change by taking any single step.
You alone know yourself. You, and only you, can choose what paths you walk. One step today leads to another tomorrow. And yes, they might be imperfect, might only be taking you past or around an obstacle, might be followed by a small leap – but one step is how any movement to take control of your life – how and where you can – is where it begins.
You’re worthy and deserving of that. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
What steps are you taking for your life today?
This is the seventh-hundred-seventy-sixth (776) exploration of my Pathwalking philosophy. These weekly essays are my ideas for – and experiences with – applying mindfulness and positivity to walk along a chosen path of life to consciously create reality.
I share my philosophy because I desire to make a difference in the world and help as many people as I can to find their empowerment with conscious reality creation.
Thank you for joining me. Feel free to share and/or repost where it might do good for you and others.
The first year of Pathwalking, including some expanded ideas, is available here.
Also, please check out my author website for the rest of my published fiction and nonfiction works.
Follow me here!
