One Step At A Time

“Look around you. Everything changes. Everything on this earth is in a continuous state of evolving, refining, improving, adapting, enhancing…changing. You were not put on this earth to remain stagnant.” 

~Steve Maraboli

Life, the Truth, and Being Free

Even though we are tempted to rush up the stairs, taking several steps in one big stretch or to simply sit on the bottom step fearful of moving, we evolve more fluently by going slowly ... one step at a time.

Our subconscious minds or soul if you wish, tends to know a plan prior to our physical and mental realization.  Perhaps it starts with a longing or a discontent even though we have no thoughts of change.  We may tell ourselves we should be content with what we have and it might be selfish to look for more.

There is a visualization of a person having one foot firmly placed on the ground with the other foot sticking straight out without any substance under it.  We often times find ourselves not wanting to leave and not knowing where it is we want to go.  We can become agitated by conflict and fear.

Self-definition evolves through out our lives or else we become stagnant.  While exploring new options, we do not have to sever old relationships.  Friends and family ties may have to be arranged just a little bit differently, but not given up entirely.  Just as we do not obliterate older parts of ourselves, we adjust, redefine, and integrate the old with the new.  

There is so much to be learned that if we run up all of the steps at once, we miss important layering that will keep our foundation strong.  The journey, after all, is to be enjoyed one step at a time.  

This process at times may feel selfish, but really it is a way of protecting our selves while climbing the stairs.  If we repeatedly step to the side to let others by, allowing their passage to be priority over our own, then who is really the selfish one?  Why is someone else's wishes less selfish than your own?

To trust in ourselves, we must know ourselves ... intentions, motivations, guidance.  We must be patient while conflict unravels as we continue to step through our fears.  

Come to the edge, he said.

They said:  We are afraid.

Come to the edge, he said.

They came.

He pushed them ... and they flew.

Guillaume Apollinaire