One step at a time gets us to our destination. Procrastination doesn’t.
Recently I read a wonderful Christian living book by Drew Dyke. JUST SHOW UP: How Small Acts of Faithfulness Change Everything was the perfect read for me because it helped me see and believe that one-step-at-a-time living works. As Drew said in a podcast interview:
Your focus is to be faithful.
We can be faithful to complete anything if we are determined to keep taking one step at a time. Baby steps like showing up to write the first draft of a blog post soon became a Word Doc that could be completed and edited later.
One step at a time completes a journey in time.
One step at a time makes a manuscript shine.
Perfectionism can be subdued by pressing ahead and telling the nagging inner editor it will get its chance to play later. First drafts are just one step of many. Writing is one step at a time. Editing needs to wait its turn.
One step at a time works for all areas of life. Getting in shape, doing housework, renovating, decluttering, decorating, and artwork can all be broken down into small steps. Each time we complete a step, we’re building momentum and confidence that we can do the next thing. Step by step we climb the ladder of a project or goal. One rung, one step, one day, one moment at a time brings us closer to completion.
Not despising small steps helps us get big things done.
I’ve been writing a poem a day for several years. They’re not great works of art. But one step at a time created material I was able to share on my Facebook page. Now I’m posting them less often so that I can do the next step of editing hundreds of poems to create a devotional book. One step at a time takes time. But since time flies by fast, it doesn’t take long before we’re ready for step two.
What big project are you dreaming of that could be done one step at a time?
Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Matthew 6:34 The Passion Translation (TPT)
Wendy L. Macdonald is an inspirational blogger and podcaster who loves to photograph nature on Vancouver Island. Her byline is: “My faith is not shallow because I’ve been rescued from the deep."
Yes! Amen! Thank you for this clearly written, succinct, engaging, and most relevant post. I love this question: "What big project are you dreaming of that could be done one step at a time?" I have a few!
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Michelle. Blessings on each of your projects. And blessings on each step you take to complete them.
DeleteI love this! One step at a time is such good advice.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Tracy. Blessings.
DeleteHi Wendy! I love this line, "Not despising small steps helps us get big things done. " I have written a bunch of poems as you have over the years. These poems have been written over a period of three years for my grieving grandparents project. You encourage me with this post on one step at a time. I am now to the point of polishing this poetry. The same with my website/blog. I am now at the point where I can put more work into resurrecting my blog. Yes, one step at a time allows me to accomplish something worthwhile. Thanks so much, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alan. I have some personal blog resurrecting to do too. Blessings as we continue to take small steps.
DeleteMany thanks for this blog post and the sage advice within. “One step at a time” can indeed accomplish much. Sometimes we just need that nudge to take that first one. Thanks for the nudge. Blessings on your day, Wendy.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Sharon. A small step can stir a significant momentum. We won't know unless we try. Blessings.
Delete"One step at a time" is the way to accomplish anything! Love this gentle reminder. It brings to mind Elisabeth Elliott quoting from an old Saxon inscription "Do the next thing, do it immediately, do it with prayer, do it reliantly, casting all care." Thank you, Wendy!
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Lorrie. E.E. shared a lot of powerful and wise words. Blessings.
DeleteWendy, thanks for such a wonderful reminder to be faithful and take one step at a time--both in our writing and in the rest of our lives. When we look back a month from now, three months from now, a year from now, we will realized we've accomplished a lot!
ReplyDeleteOne of the joys of keeping a journal is we can easily witness progress over the pages of time. Thank you, dear Sandi. Blessings.
DeleteThanks, I needed to hear this today.
ReplyDeleteMe too. Every. Day. Blessings. :)
DeleteI love how you’ve written a poem each day and now you have a body of work to edit and publish. Love this. Such good advice. ❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Pam. It's comforting to know fruitful habits can formed by showing up each day in a simple way. Blessings.
DeleteThis is so true, Wendy! Thank you for the reminder that 'small steps help us get big things done'. I do love hearing about how your habit of writing a poem a day has now culminated in having a body of work that you can work on to publish. So inspiring! Splendid! Good for you! xo
ReplyDeleteThank you & blessings on your projects, dear Brenda.
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