The Next Step ONLY.

This morning I woke up and felt a little overwhelmed. There were so many things going on in my head, I did not know what to tackle first? Then I remember the Kaizen Philosophy - “How do you run a 1000 mine race? 1 step at a time”.

That philosophy reminds me to be in the present moment. I cannot figure out what the next step I need to take if I do not take a moment and notice where my feet are planted. From where I stand, I know the next step to take.

My issue is I spend too much time living in the past or the future. Wishing Lauren was still here or jumping 10 years out with the big vision I have for my life take me out of the present moment. That type of thinking is letting my past dictate my future or overwhelming me with things that have not happened yet. 

Living in the past, or the future, is neither good nor bad. The key is to bring it back to the present moment and learn a lesson. When I am focused on the past, I look at the results I get from that way of thinking. If I like the results I get, I repeat that line of thinking (and acting). And, if I do not like the results, I must make a change. 

I have a vision of what I want my future to look like. That is critical, especially in grief because I lost my vision when Lauren died. Without a vision, there is no clarity in direction. It would be like driving to a friend’s house without having their address. And, if I focus on all the actions I need to take to get to that vision, I am overwhelmed, every time. 

So this morning, I took a beat. I got grounded by focusing on my breath, and noticing where I was physically, emotionally and mentally. It is not about pushing anything away. It is taking a moment to accept your reality and from that place, take the next step forward.

You do not need to see the entire staircase all at once. Focus on the next step.