The Next Step

Introduction:

Hey buddy!

It's been a fast moving September that has afforded us the opportunity to meet back to back in such a manner that feels like we've never really left each other.

Yet there's been days between each of the Fridays we've met here for this weekly newsletter.

In taking notice of how swiftly they've passed, we acknowledge that time, our only irredeemable resource, continues to tick; and it's only by intentionally scheduling and carrying out the scheduled activities of self development and productivity each day, do we get a grip of it.

What this means in essence is that whether we give it our best or play around, it won't pause for anyone; as what should have been an opportunity to get better mentally, physically, spiritually or financially is wasted.

We may say it's just "one day" but one day overtime runs into days and weeks to months until it becomes wasted years.

Then we realise that the reason we're not where we expected to be today, when we envisaged it five (5) years back, is simply because we've allowed time pass without giving it something to store up for us.

It's for this reason we'll be looking to discuss "The Next Step" and why it should be our main focus if we're to meet our expectations of ourselves.

Discussion:

For a person to take a step, it means that there's indeed a pathway and a destination.

However, a disconnect is established if the preferred pathway doesn't lead to that destination; which is often where we find ourselves.

Some other times when both are well aligned we may lack the courage to even get started which denies us the strength of progress after we've seen that efforts will eventually yield results.

For those in the first category, the next step could be one of changing their route to get back on track and for the later it's about overcoming the fear of failure, or the burden of trying to get off a "perfect start"

Whatever it is for us, not knowing the next best step to take can be the reason we may never get to our destination which is too much a price.

■ Living Today From Tomorrow's Lens

As time passes, we notice that some of the things that really mattered to us have become irrelevant as they've been replaced by more sustainable responsibilities.

It's the realization that the trendy or luxurious items we desperately wanted to afford so much that we even got into trouble, are now obsolete as the world and technology continues to advance.

In living today in tomorrow's lens we're able to make our decisions on the basis of what suits us best in the long term, rather than jumping on the van of instant gratification; headed for the valley of ruin.

Where this futuristic perspective is lacking, we'd always get our next step wrong as we're influenced by what's popular or self-serving which ultimately costs us.

■ Staying On Our Path

One step at a time every progressive move compounds overtime to get us to our destination.

However, some of us don't stay on our lane long enough for something tangible to happen because we're deep in the habit of comparing ourselves with others.

As a result of this, we take the retrogressive step of jumping in and out of every venture we see anyone succeeding at, not minding if we're equipped for it or not until our incompetence exposes our incompatibility with the craft.

A good next step is the one that aligns with our purpose, solving the problem of the world around us.

On our path, we find ourselves not just taking steps but leaps as slow progress compounded overtime brings us to the point of swift progress because we've become too good to be ignored.

This requires a clear vision as it'll serve as the map guiding us through each path.

■ When The Next Step Is The First Step

How many of us failed at something simply because we never got started?

Truth is, it takes courage to overcome that fear of taking the next step especially when it's the first step into unfamiliar surroundings such as a new environment, new job, new school and so on.

At other times we hesitate on starting because we want to start big, forgetting that even the grandest things can start insignificantly until time plays its role of adding up progress.

In getting started we place on ourselves the pressure of getting to the finish line because we see quitting as wasting the already invested efforts.

■ Readying For The Next Step

The responsibility to discover our destination and stay put on the path to it is solely on us.

We must first have a mental image of where and who we want to be before we can know the right efforts it'll require to make it a reality.

We must set specific goals before we commit ourselves to the daily discipline it'll require of us.

To be willing and able to prioritize our activities on the basis of how much value they create and to forfeit those whose contributions are counter productive.

To be ready, is to appreciate the significance of every second knowing that time spent doing one thankless activity or the other takes away from the total time available to us to pursue our goals.

Most importantly, readiness entails the deep understanding that taking the next forward step on the wrong path is indeed a backwards movement just as retracing back into the right path is a positive step forward.

Summary:

As humans it's very easy to wish for and to expect the best yet our realities will always be shaped by how much we're ready to give or give up in the quest to reach new heights.

While it's easy to have high expectations of ourselves, if it's not backed up by a clear plan it's nothing more than a daydream.

The right step will always require us to be disciplined and patient, as each new step forward opens us to situations where we ask more of ourselves.

Master Apprentice.

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