“Small steps may appear unimpressive, but don’t be deceived. They are the means by which perspectives are subtly altered, mountains are gradually scaled, and lives are drastically changed.”
~ Richelle E. Goodrich
As most of you know, I am recovering from illness right now.
I’ve just finished two months of bed rest and am slowly easing myself back into life again. Luckily I’ve found my sweet spot. About three hours of work a day right now is all I can manage. Three hours gives me enough left in the tank for a walk on the beach, for cooking healthy meals, for meaningful connection with my loved ones and for self-care.
Any more than three hours and exhaustion creeps in. If I overdo it and go crazy at my desk I am useless for the next two or three days. Pacing myself is essential. And it is for you too, my friends.
The first six months of this year have been intense. They have required so much from us as we unstick ourselves from the mud, face what needs to be faced, heal what needs to be healed, and attend to all the things that have been holding us back. Because that’s what growth is all about. Sometimes we have to clean up the mess first before we can really start on new things on earnest. The only way you can do that is to put one foot in front of the other.
On January 1 this year I chose a tarot card as guidance for the year ahead. The card was Prince of Disks. The wisdom of this card is all about how taking small steps matters, even though small steps may seem decidedly unsexy and unimpressive when viewed in isolation. But of course, over time small steps add up to big shifts forward. (You can read more about my forecast for 2017 here. )
The energies of the second half of this year are much less intense, much more expansive and creative and allowing. But the small steps rule still applies.
You may feel like you’ve done nothing this year. Perhaps in relation to your bigger goals, dreams and projects that’s true. I can guarantee you though that you’ve been working anyway. Clearing the mess. Dealing with life’s dramas. Sorting out the priorities life has put in front of you. So don’t despair and don’t give up. Use July as your fresh start. Start over. Begin your plans again. Pick up whatever you had to put down when it all got too much. Keep making small steps. Small steps are all you will ever need. (more on July energies here)
As to pacing yourself?
If your life is so crazy that you have no time for yourself, if you are exhausted all the time, if you are resentful of any more demands being made of you – even by loved ones, then it’s time to pace yourself. Work out your sweet spot and stick to what you can manage. It’s always a diminishing return anyway once you move past happily productive and into exhaustion.
If there’s no way to slow down then seriously consider getting off that particular merry-go-round. Life is too short, and you are too precious to work yourself into an early grave for no good reason.
Above all, lovelies, be gentle with yourselves. You’re recovering from a great intensity too. Kindness and self care are magical medicines for care-worn souls.
Much love to you from my little sanctuary here at the farm, Nicole <3 xoxo
Thank you very much for this post. I had been beating myself up for getting nothing done this year as I was still fighting with my recuperation from last year’s breakdown. At least it was feeling like nothing happened the way I had hoped. 2017 was meant to be my year out of the mud. Too much to do, not enough energy and too many bad and traumatic memories.
Thank you for reminding me of the small steps I managed to successfully implement in my life and how inner work counts too!
Much blessings to you and may your way towards healing be successful.
Ok, this posting hit like a bit of a ton of bricks. I’m a bit shocked at how much it hit home as this first six months have been insane and exhausting. Thank you!
Small steps are often the only steps we can take, and we all can do with a pep talk when the days seem hard and full of steep hills
Small steps do matter. I am in a “big steps year.” So far I am not feeling too stressed about the big changes. Probably because of the new and excitement of it all. Probably because I am finding positive energy and emotional support from bloggers and websites like yours! Thank you. And feel better. Hugs!
Thanks Nicole. Really glad you are recovering well. I am going through my own recovery from chronic fatigue and have to keep reminding myself that it’s important to be still and do nothing sometimes. Best wishes, Rita
Thanks so much Nicole this completely resonates with me too. It’s so easy to forget that every long walk begins with one small step.
Sending you Love Light & Reiki.
So glad you found a sweet spot.
💖
Hi Nicole, thank you for sharing your experiences. In them I find that I too need to slow down and really take life step by step. The problem is that most of us want to “get things done” and “never look back.” But sometimes, we need to simply take it one step at a time and every now and then, take a step back. Cheers!
Oh, I hear you on that! But as a lyme sufferer and card-carrying member of the community who live with chronic illness I’ve learned that madly ‘getting things done’ often comes with a price tag that is just too high. I’m much more into sustainability these days. And sustainability is good for EVERYONE. Like my husband keeps reminding me, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Hugs to you xx
Amen to that. Keep the positive and nurturing wisdom coming and may your healing continue, step by step. Cheers!
Thank you for this beautiful post Nicole which so resonated with me. This is a message I have also received this week very strongly – time to recollect and reflect on what we have actually achieved and celebrate our progress. I’ve shared with my networks this morning. My gratitude to you for your intuitive guidance and writing. I hope July is a beautiful fresh start for you xx
Thanks, Terri. I wish the same for you! Much love, Nicole xx