“From an old English” (house) “down by the sea

There came in the twilight a message to me;…

And on through the doors the quiet words ring

Like a low inspiration: ‘DO THE NEXT THING.’ ” – Elisabeth Elliot

Life Hits The Fan

I often have people ask me what to do when life hits the fan? I think people ask me that question because of some of the things I have been through and that I am continuing to make it through. Even though everyone runs into tough days, there are some steps that I have learned through trial and error that have helped me and continue to help me reach some of my goals. 

Personal Helpful Steps Forward

There are a lot of things I do and the following is not the first thing I do (maybe I can cover that some other time), but these are steps that have been helpful. They are…

Think about what you still have…

1. One of the most priceless possessions you will ever have is yourself (I know from personal experience how hard that can be to believe if you have gone through some tough situations in life but it is true). You are unique just like your fingerprint, have a unique story, and unique talents. When you use your unique talents, it can help you reach goals.
2. What good people do you have around you? If you don’t have this, find someone with online content or who has a book (even audio or educational videos if you hate to read) that goes over getting through what you are trying to overcome.
3. What resources do you have left? This could be knowledge, money, internet access to find resources, a book, a friend who you lost touch with but that might be able to help.
4. What immediate decisions can you make to help you stabilize even if it looks different than you thought/imagined the situation or your life looking like at first?
5. What do you need to heal from even emotionally? Is it your past, a trigger (no longer useful), regrets, what you did or what others have done to you? Is it something you need to get out of or a thought pattern that is not helping you reach your best possible version?
6. What small action can you take to move toward your goals regardless of what you are facing? For example, if you want to be a kinder person in the right situations (this is from personal ongoing experience – still working on this…), who can you forgive, or tell I really blew it back then, if it applies? Or maybe it’s planning to do a small act of kindness every day until it becomes a habit. The different goals and the endless possibilities of small actions to achieve them could go on and on….

“…The Next Thing…”

Goals just like reaching the top of a stairs can take time and maybe a “little effort.” Even if you are faced with challenges along the way, when you “do the next thing,” each day can be a step closer. A step closer to the life you want to live.