Most often we think achieving great things means taking bold steps. But that is far from the truth. When we think of such innovative ideas we freeze and end up procrastinating all day long.
However, thinking of one small step you can take is far healthier for the brain than taking big bold leaps. Doing so frees your brain so you can focus on one specific instance.
In this article, we will explore how you can accomplish big things in small steps.
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This concept is from the book “One small step can change your life by Robert Maurer”.
According to Robert Maurer, taking small micro steps on a daily basis will lead to great changes in your life. If your goal is to become fit, focus on walking even just for five minutes. By doing it constantly, your brain starts developing a taste for exercise.
Roberts points out in his book that, if you focus on big goals, you will immediately be stopped by your brain. So, bypass those mechanisms by taking it one small innocuous step at a time.
Below are three of the best strategies outlined in the book.
Ask Tiny Specific Questions
Whenever you are faced with a problem, the obvious thinking is to ask questions too large for your mind to process.
Rather the best technique is to ask seemingly trivial questions that can help focus your mind on starting.
One story from the book was about an issue in a clinic. They were having problems with patient delays. So, he asked them to think about the tiniest question they could ask to solve the issue.
Because of how small the question was, they came up with so many tiny solutions to curb the larger problem of patient disenrollment.
Focus On Cultivating Small Thought Patterns
We are constantly bombarded with the idea of jumping in before we are even prepared mentally to achieve any goal.
For example, when we want to start exercising, David Goggins might say just do it. This is just one of the very few motivational speeches we see online and in almost every talk on YouTube.
However, such a leap causes us to feel anxiety and stress. We end up frustrated and give up on the goal entirely.
If we take the opposite route and start using the idea of mind sculpting, we will achieve success in the long run.
Why?
There is a region in our brain called the amygdala that wakes up when we decide to perform a difficult or challenging task. It makes us freeze and we seek comfort coping activities like scrolling Facebook or watching Netflix.
The alternative method is to build small consistent thought patterns in your brain. This makes it possible to develop the confidence we need to actually act on our ideas.
These atomic tweaks to your mind create a mental environment perfect for executing your desired goals.
This is how most successful people became so. Their small invisible actions unseen to the uninitiated mind brought about giant leaps in every aspect of their life.
Focus On Bestowing Small Rewards
Don’t say bad things to yourself.
Rather, take small tiny steps to celebrate yourself in the little things you do every day.
If your goal is to exercise every day, start by doing one pushup. After the pushup, say something nice either out load or mentally. It could be a comment like “nice job” or “you have done well” and then refer to yourself. This primes your brain to find comfort in building the new habit.
According to the author, berating yourself with negative questions and words only keeps you in a state of failure.
What Next
Using these simple techniques, you can tackle difficult and complicated tasks in a less fearful and threatening manner.