The Rest of Your Story 15: What's the next step?

To start from part one, click here.

When my husband and I vacation, we walk everywhere.

There's a moment when I panic a little--usually when my husband pulls out the map and cheerfully says, "Let's go here, here, and here." And I reply, "That's a looonnnggg way. Can't we just go to Starbuck's?"

But we set out...and by the end of the day we've made it and I'm happy. I've learned the trick is not giving in to that moment when the journey, the story, seems like too much. Just start with one step.

Small - The tinier the better. We tell ourselves we've got to do something amazing right now...ignore that voice.

Tangible - We're not trying to walk on air. "I want to be happy!" isn't a step. Choose something with results.

Easy - Yep, not only small but easy. If it can happen in five minutes or less, you get bonus points.

Positive - The whole point is going forward. Now isn't the time for, "I'm going to stop...X" Focus on what you'll do instead.

A S.T.E.P. might be making a phone call, getting a book, writing something down, exercising for two minutes, reconnecting with a friend, leaving a comment, anything that moves you forward.  

(Okay, I am totally cracking up right now because I'm picturing Bill Murray in "What about Bob?" saying, 'Baby steps, baby steps.' Has anyone else seen that movie? If so, you have my full permission to laugh with/at me right now!)

We tend to picture God as being there for the huge leaps of faith in our stories. But He's totally in the little stuff too. Even the Israelites made it to the Promised Land one step at a time.

In your story, small is big.

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TODAY'S QUESTION: What's a S.T.E.P in your story?

Every comment during the 21-day challenge = an entry for $50 to Dayspring.com, including the (in)courage shop!

Speaking of comments, we have three winners from Part 11...Sherri, Gloria, and LMH! They get to choose a journal. And all of you get my friends and family code, holley20, for 20% off anything you'd like on DaySpring.com!

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REST OF YOUR STORY ROUND-UP! Woo-hoo!

If you wrote a post on your blog this week about the rest of your story, just add your link below. We'll get to visit you and you'll get an extra entry for the giveaway!

Comments

[Sal Williams]

Thank you for 'urging' us gently to move forward...

S - Small as you say and a Simple step

T - Tangible and in Trust

E - Easy and in Eager expectation

P - Positive and Prayerfully

So today I pray and journalise some of the things you have talked about these past few days....that's my first step!

[Mayte]

When you put that way Holley, it seems so easy... I guess things don't have to be always hard and difficult. And yes baby steps are best.Like Sal posted it,a simple step, let yourself being loved, tangible and in trust, let yourself being hugged and kissed, sometimes is so hard for us to understand why people love us, when we feel that we don't deserve the love. Easy and in eager expectation, knowing that God is always working in mysterious and great ways. And last in positve and prayerfully way to keep walking your baby steps.I am walking those baby steps ... feeling confident that the rest of my story is gonna be amazing.

[Becky]

Dear Holley,

I've seen "What About Bob?" a few times. Hahaha! I'm a big Bill Murray fan.

"...baby step onto the elevator... baby step into the elevator... I'm *in* the elevator. (the elevator doors close) AHHHHHHHHHH!"

I know there's so much truth in what you say. Thank you, though, for reminding me that God is "totally in the little stuff, too."

I took one sort of big step recently. I'm volunteering at a hospital once a week. It's something my husband hoped to do to give back to the hospital and people there that meant so much to him. The cancer, when it came back, was agressive, though, and he never got the chance. So in his memory (and because I knew it would be good for me, too, for lots of reasons), I'm doing that for him. I'm very shy and, at one time, I'd get lightheaded in hospitals so I'm doing it with baby steps every night I'm there. Prior to this, I usually wouldn't even look at people when I talked to them. But I'm finding that with baby steps, I walk up to the first patient's bed and smile. They smile back. I think, "Thank you, God!" Or, as Bob would say, "Ahhhhhhhh!"

Well, I don't volunteer again until Monday night. So, for today, I think I'll smile at someone in the grocery store tonight.

As always, Holley, thank you so much! You're a blessing.

Blessings to you!

[Quiltokie]

Wow,Becky - good for you!!! I am 'not' listening to the voice that says I must be amazing right now. Right now, I just want to be fine. Life feels overwhelming in it's whole big self. I think, I'm going to just break it all down into bite size pieces and deal with it that way...one baby step at a time! Starting this study was my first step and thank God for sending me here...this was just what I needed, just when I needed it!

[Stacey]

I was just quoting Bob the other day! How fun! Laughter is a good step too! I am in general a people person, so when I get stuck emotionally, it really does help me to take a step and complete a task. Like, cleaning something or creating something tangible! From start to finish, it just feels good and helps me get unstuck!

Thanks,Stacey

P.S. I left my link for my blog post, and realized I spelled my blog wrong! Oh my, too early to be posting I guess! :)

[Mary]

This is great advise. The desire to see more of the story is always so great. This is a great reminder that it will take time. Love, healing, change, and moving on can all happen in baby steps. This reminds me that there can be hope a little at a time.

[Dilys]

I am a caregiver. I care for my 94 year old mother with Parkinson's + dementia. My daughter too is going through a stage with lots of health problems. The result is that I have cared for others, rushing to doctors, therapy etc, and have not taken care of myself at all. My step today was to do my stretches and 40 min. on my bike. Slowly, I am going to try to take care of myself as well.

[nancy]

Thanks for the reminder! I know from past experiences that baby steps are definitely the way to go, but then I get discouraged or overzealous... and I stop moving forward or I make myself crazy trying to get it done NOW. Today I will spend 10 minutes clearing clutter out of the extra bedroom... and tomorrow I'll do it again... and, eventually, it will be clean again! If I skip a day, I'm not a failure and if I'm extra-motivated or have more time another day, I haven't set up a new pattern that must be followed. One small, tangible, easy, positive step at a time. That's the way to conquer the giants in my life.

[Keri]

My step would be writing. It's the one thing that I love that tends to get pushed to the back burner way to often. Last week I actually put an appointment on my calendar to be alone with pen & paper. Week one was wonderfully refreshing... I plan to keep it going!

[Mary-Frances]

OK you must also be a mind reader (among all your other fabulous traits). . .yesterday I took a baby step I've been procrastinating about since Christmas. I sent an email! Small enough? I sent a course proposal to an online college program, one that I would like to teach. And I got a positive response. (Now not so little - but the ball is rolling!!) Thanks for the affirmation - I'm feeling just a bit shaky and insecure. . but I will push myself to move along!(And What About Bob has always been a favorite. . Baby Steps, baby steps. . . )