The Secret to Sustainable Change

When it comes to making changes in our lives, we often think big.

The big vision. The big idea. The big break. Go big or go home.

Sometimes we experience a life catalyst that forces a big change on us.

But often the big change we seek to make doesn’t work. It either feels undoable or unsustainable.

If you’re constantly feeling pressed for time, clearing a full day for yourself, or even a few hours, can be a non-starter.

An unsettled nervous system can’t ground into a big dream or grand plan; it is focused on the next step.

You might be able to clear your schedule to handle an emergent crisis, but living in crisis mode isn’t sustainable.

Dedicating two weeks to an important project may help you get some traction, but unless you can sustain your efforts the project will languish until the next time you can clear your schedule.

Most people who make New Year’s resolutions fall off of them within 2 weeks because they think too big. They try to do too much at once.

The secret to sustainable change is to think small. Small shifts don’t offer the same instant gratification. We can’t always perceive the change in the moment. We may not see tangible results for months.

But life is a long game. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.

It’s not about what you do once in a while, but what you do consistently, that matters.

Just as a steady drip of water, over time, will hollow out a stone, small actions, performed consistently over time, create supersized impact.

Trust the process.