If you’ve been hanging out with me on any of my social or are tuned into the group, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve heard of The Small Step Method. Every single week we continue our journey of self-improvement together with a new small step. Some slight change in habit or mindset that will sustainably improve, impact, or transform you and your life. I know, I know… it sounds like a little thing with a BIG impossible promise and yes, it is a little thing but the promise is VERY real.
People in our community who are implementing small steps are seeing incredible changes that are easy to stick to and feeling better than ever. Because it turns out that when you know you deserve it, set yourself up for success, and celebrate yourself it’s not so difficult to tackle even your biggest dreams and goals. I got to thinking, ‘hey, everyone needs some of this awesomeness’. So, if you’re looking for not just a quick fix but a sustainable solution, look no further. I’m pulling back the curtain and showing you the inner workings of The Small Step Method so you can transform your life too.
Step 1: Affirmations
In case you didn’t know, The Small Step Method was originated by none other than yours truly. But it didn’t come fully formed. Like the method itself it was created one small step at a time and the first step… yep, affirmations.
An Affirmations Convert
I had tried all the things, as in ALL the things and I’m pretty sure if you’re reading this you’ve also tried. You know, to follow the advice, read the books, grow, get healthy, manage your time, be more authentic… I mean the list goes on and on. It was overwhelming and stressful, and I was trying to cram it all into my endless to-do list busy life as a mom of 5, wife, and business owner (just a few of the hats I was wearing). I felt overwhelmed, exhausted, and quite frankly I felt like a failure. It was all too much.
Then through an unlikely and unexpected source I heard about affirmations. And just to be clear I wasn’t very enthusiastic about the whole idea. I thought it was basically a nonsensical waste of time and just the thought of doing them made me feel like a 4-year-old who needs a nap, is being made to take a nap, but most definitely doesn’t want a nap. I was, shall we say, resistant to the idea but I knew I needed to do it. So, this was my very first small step ever and it’s so powerful it’s the first step in The Small Step Method. (If you want to learn more about my affirmations journey you can totally do that here… of course I wrote about it).
Why You Need Affirmations too
Affirmations are the foundation upon which all health, wellness, personal growth, joy, life satisfaction (and I could go on and on) are built. Here’s why, it turns out if you don’t truly believe that you’re worthy, you’re already enough, and you deserve the transformation you’re looking for you won’t get it. The very first step to accomplishing your goals and transforming your life is believing you and your dreams are worth the effort.
Step 2: Create a Small Step
Creating a small step can seem a little daunting. I mean, if you’re anything like me you probably have quite a few things you’d like to work on. No worries! To create my small steps, I simply use my goal and intention work. Check out the breakdown of your big goal. Take a good hard look at your monthly and weekly mini goals and think about what little thing you could do each day to get you on your way. I can’t emphasize enough how important it is that your small steps are seriously SMALL, as in itty bitty!
Get JUST Outside Your Comfort Zone
We can all agree that to achieve your goals, transform your life and yourself you’re going to need to step outside your comfort zone. Where we usually mess this up is by trying to rocket out of our comfort zone. And seriously, that’s not at all sustainable. You end up overwhelmed, losing steam and eventually you’ll simply collapse and fall right back into old mindset and habits. It’s not because you don’t have enough will power or self-discipline. It’s because you tried to do too much too fast. Growth means stretching your comfort zone one small step at a time. I mean think about it… that’s only natural…if your 2 year old woke up tomorrow and was the height of an adult you’d be freaking out and seeking medical attention. Why do you expect personal growth to happen overnight?
Step 3 Celebrate Your Wins
Even when we really believe we deserve it, and we are just taking the smallest of steps, change is challenging. It’s hard to stay motivated and keep moving forward, especially when we face unexpected bumps in the road. We often get so tunnel visioned on the big goal that we don’t recognize the progress we’re making and get impatient and frustrated. That’s why it’s so important to celebrate your wins. And I’m sure this isn’t the first time you’ve heard that advice. But like every other part of The Small Step Method, we’ve simplified it.
Celebrate Daily
You see, this celebrate your wins thing is something I totally believed in right away. The only problem was I couldn’t see the wins to begin with. I kept thinking “when I get to this milestone” or “when I’ve been doing this for 3 months”. Because the truth is, coming out of an all or nothing, perfectionist mindset, I really didn’t understand what a small win was or what deserved to be celebrated. That’s why I started keeping an accomplishment journal. It’s SUPER easy! You simply write your accomplishments at the end of every day.
I know, I know, you might be thinking “but what about the day’s I don’t accomplish anything”. Let me ask you… did you really not accomplish ANYTHING??? Did you get out of bed, take a shower, feed yourself, brush your teeth? Believe me, as a person in recovery from depression and anxiety I know these are accomplishments and they deserve to be acknowledged. Don’t wait to celebrate your wins, do it daily by validating yourself, praising yourself, and brining awareness to the incredible accomplishments you’ve achieved that day.
Transform Your Life
The Small Step Method isn’t some flashy, high energy idea that’s here today and gone tomorrow. It’s designed to transform your life by creating sustainable change you can feel enthusiastic about and proud of. And guess what, it works for everyone (at least everyone who’s tried it). People tell me everyday that their small steps are changing their lives, sometimes in unexpected, incredible ways. They wake feeling purposeful, fall asleep feeling proud and they feel empowered to take on their biggest challenges, dreams, and goals. And… here’s the thing… YOU can 100% do this too!
Learn more about how to consistently crush your goals using the latest research in neuro-science, psychology, and behavioral science, including the Small Step Method here!
Share one of your goals for this year in the comments below!
