Your first step in the right direction doesn’t have to be a big one.
There may be a number of factors that keep us from making the positive changes we desire in our lives. There is fear, complacency, laziness, distractions, negative peer pressure, addiction… there could be much written about each.
But for most of us, the inability to change the course of our lives boils down to one simple problem: The change seems too difficult. And as a result, we simply don’t know where to start.
We understand the importance of healthy, life-giving habits. We’ve seen their positive influence on the lives of others. We envy the life they live. We desire it, but the road looks far too long from our Point A to their Point B. And we give up the pursuit before we even start.
I’ve seen this countless times in my conversations with others (both formally and informally) concerning the importance of decluttering our homes and lives. I’ll mention the countless benefits we have discovered by purposefully living with fewer possessions. The message will be well-received… even desired. But almost immediately, the pursuit of this specific positive life-change will be countered by the most difficult of objections.
They usually sound something like this, “But what will I do with my book collection?” “I’m a sentimentalist. I could never get rid of this or that. There’s too much emotional attachment.” or “I’ll never get my husband/wife to go along with it.”
And my response is always the same: Just start small. You don’t have to start with a big step.
You don’t have to have everything figured out before you start. Just one small step down the right path is all you need to start heading in the right direction.
This truth applies to every positive life change we desire to embrace with our lives.
The journey anywhere almost always starts with one small step. As I look back over the past years of my life, I see this theme recurring over and over again:
- The journey of removing most of our worldly possessions began by simply removing the clutter from our cars.
- The accomplishment of running my first marathon started by waking up one day and running one mile.
- The journey of establishing this blog and inspiring others began with one simple post.
- The goal of becoming a life-long reader started by picking up one book on January 1st.
- When my wife wanted to learn how to sew, she accompanied her friends to a sewing class at a local church.
Interestingly enough, I am not alone. In fact, this is a theme I see recurring in all sorts of pursuits and personalities. Each of them successful in their field, each offering the same advice: Start small. For example…
- Chris Guillebeau recounts that his success started when he simply decided to start writing twice/week.
- Leo Babauta has written for years the key to changing any life habit is to start as easy as possible.
- Dave Ramsey tells those in debt to get out by paying off their smallest debts first.
- Lori Deschene began building her powerful online community by posting one inspirational quote each day.
- When I asked Brad Lomenick for advice on taking my message to a larger audience, he replied, “Just keep showing up.”
- Benny Lewis says the first step in learning a new language is to simply embrace an optimistic attitude (and a simple phrase book).
- Jeff Goins claims his writing career took off when he intentionally began telling himself, “I am a writer.”
When it comes to embracing positive life change (whatever that may be in our unique lives), the road may indeed be long from Point A to Point B. But it always starts with one step.
So go ahead, take one small step in the right direction. And then, take another one tomorrow. Before you know it, you’ll be further down the road than you ever expected.
Kate says
Thank you for such an inspiring post!
Great ideas to keep in mind as I am just at the beginning of my life-change journey.
Emily says
Wise words indeed!! It can be daunting when you start to try and change your life for the better. Overwhelming for sure. One step at a time, easy does it and slow and steady wins the race – all tried and true ;)
Keep up the blog, its a lovely addition to the minimalist blogosphere!! :)
Mia says
I have begun the process of simplifying my life and it really is one step at a time. I enjoy getting the inspiration from your posts and hope that by living simply, decluttering and downsizing I will have more time to spend doing the important stuff (i.e. hanging with the kids and being present when I am with them)… because really… all that matters I can hold in my hand. I hope I can teach them that you don’t need wealth or stuff to be happy. Thanks again for the inspiration!
M
Allie says
Joshua i realize that excuses are so easy to come by. I have been decluttering and throwing things away because I realize that they are simply “things’ and if I wish to move forward I have to make the hard choices regardless of the emotional attachment. It only comes along with emotional baggage as well.
Bryanna says
Do you have any previous blogs with pics of your living space for inspiration with living spaces, including little ones?
joshua becker says
We didn’t take many photos (although I often wish we would have). There are a few on this blog back in the early days.
Check here: https://www.becomingminimalist.com/2008/06/16/operation-minimalist-office-complete/
https://www.becomingminimalist.com/2008/06/19/operation-basement-day-1-results/
https://www.becomingminimalist.com/2010/10/01/why-i-dont-count-my-stuff-and-why-i-am-excited-to-start/
Each of them are years old, but you get the idea.
Bryanna says
Thanks! I meant more now than when you got started. It’s the ‘present’ that makes it the real gift of clarity. ;-) I know that’s personal, but if you do have any pics you’d like to share of your living spaces, I’d love to see them.
M says
Just earlier, I read Steve Kamb’s take on how to form new habits, see http://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/2012/06/04/new-habits/. Reading through both your articles – in the light of having recently read David Allen’s “Getting Things Done” – I then realized:
Forcing yourself to start as small as you can is related to GTD’s “next action” step.
GTD’s “next action” step works so well because it clarifies the next immediate thing you can do to progress on that project. Starting small when forming habits is similarly a “next immediate thing” you are doing to make that habit stick. Because both of them force you to think beforehand what said next action/small start would concretely look like, you don’t have to deal with a “shapeless” project/habit anymore (and all the uncertainty and anxiety associated with it).
Since there seems to be a connection between habit forming and GTD, could you maybe find some other parallels between the GTD methods and habit forming steps? Or even take some of the GTD methods and adapt them for habit forming? The first one that comes to mind is the weekly review, which looks like it’s related to setting up an accountability system for habit forming (except that the weekly review seems to me more like being your own accountability inspector).
Any thoughts on this?
Brett says
What started me on my journey was to realize that I did not need a complete overhaul of my life. I think sometimes we see green grass somewhere else and want to move. Once I took personal stock of who I was and where I was, I found that what I wanted in life was not somewhere else, but right in front of me. Once you are in a place of gratitude, taking steps toward the next level is enjoyable and rewarding.
Dr Wayne Dyer stated, ” Let go of your need to have more. When you stop needing more of everything, more of what you desire seems to arrive in your life. Since you’re detached from the need for it, you find it easier to pass along to others, because you realize how little you need in order to be satisfied and at peace”. ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer
\m/(-_-)\m/
Justin @ The Family Finances says
Great post. I see this firsthand in my immediate family. They constantly talk about “I can’t” do this and “I can’t” do that. You make a great point that people look at the entire desired change and feel overwhelmed. But if you break it into smaller steps, it’s much easier to say “I can”.
Paula says
Joshua,
I didn’t know you had run the Vermont Marathon in 2010! I did too. What a great race and what a beautiful city Burlington is! It was a huge out-of-my-comfort-zone step for me to go there by myself and do something I had no idea i could do… It still remains one of the best days of my life (including the pain, the hills and all!).
I think this is a sign for me that i’m in the right path to continue in this beautiful journey for the rest of my life…
Thank you!
joshua becker says
Congratulations Paula! What a splendid coincidence. I have a number of memories from the run, but the two that stand out the most include: 1) running up the hill at Mile 16; and 2) you pointing and laughing while you were passing me. I’m surprised you didn’t remember that :)
Elizabeth | ReadySetSimplify says
Thank you for this encouragement and inspiration. I shared this on my Facebook page. My next step will be a new blog post. :-)