One day/step at a time
Whether I am biking up hills for the first time in the spring, tackling a seemingly mountain of paperwork, paying off a loan, cleaning house, getting acquainted with someone or joining others to campaign for a political candidate I know that if I focus on the entire task at hand I could easily become overwhelmed and decide I might as well not even try to accomplish that task. If, however, I set tiny goals such as one step, one pieces of paper, one dollar, or dusting one shelf I can easily accomplish that goal
Since I work for and with a lot of individuals who are using the 12-step program to reclaim their lives from active addiction, I often hear and echo the advice, “One day at a time.” I have now worked in the Wheeling areas for nearly 39 years.I know individuals who had accumulated 37 or 38 years of “one day” or as some like to report 13, 870 days one day at a time. If anyone had suggested on the first day of recovery to one of these people that they had to stay clean and sober for 13, 780 days they most likely would have given up very quickly.
No matter what the task it can almost always be broken down into small, achievable steps. If the steps are within our ability or if we can humble ourselves to consult with someone who has the skill set needed we can achieve one small step. Some tasks may take the cooperation and skill sets of many individuals but working together those very complicated tasks can be accomplished. I am always amazed that a skyscraper begins with a surveyor a draftsperson and an architect, then backhoe operators, and so forth. When the actual erection of a building begins it has to be kept level with each small piece establishing the right relationship with the preceding pieces. I am always amazed that one can build such a structure level and grounded enough to be safe to use. Yet every day such magic happens.
Reclaiming our authentic selves requires the same focus, patience and piece by piece process. I was listening to the director of a television series entitled Pose written, produced and directed by a transsexual woman Janet Mock. Pose recreates and tells the story of transsexual individuals claiming their right to be. Although there are political and religious forces still determined to bury transsexual individuals in a web of fear and lies, individuals such as Janet Mock continue to examine and correct those lies one by one. Once a transsexual person has begun the process of claiming new truths they have the power to claim the life them deserve.
My work in the mental health field often involves the same step by step process. This process may be aided by medication, exercise, emotional and spiritual support, as well as good nutrition but a significant part of the healing process is identifying and correcting the lies of the depression, anxiety, grief, or anger. Even if these lies are a result of a physical condition one can identify and correct them rather than feeding them. Often, I ask individual to daily text or email me with a new truth about themselves or their abilities. Step by step, one day at a time the lies lose much of their power. Surrounding oneself with those who validate one’s worth and power also can be a huge part of the healing process.
Individually and together, one step at a time, we are powerful. It is interesting to note that almost all significant social and spiritual progress has been accomplished by a small group of people living new truth one day/step at a time.
Written May 15, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
Whether I am biking up hills for the first time in the spring, tackling a seemingly mountain of paperwork, paying off a loan, cleaning house, getting acquainted with someone or joining others to campaign for a political candidate I know that if I focus on the entire task at hand I could easily become overwhelmed and decide I might as well not even try to accomplish that task. If, however, I set tiny goals such as one step, one pieces of paper, one dollar, or dusting one shelf I can easily accomplish that goal
Since I work for and with a lot of individuals who are using the 12-step program to reclaim their lives from active addiction, I often hear and echo the advice, “One day at a time.” I have now worked in the Wheeling areas for nearly 39 years.I know individuals who had accumulated 37 or 38 years of “one day” or as some like to report 13, 870 days one day at a time. If anyone had suggested on the first day of recovery to one of these people that they had to stay clean and sober for 13, 780 days they most likely would have given up very quickly.
No matter what the task it can almost always be broken down into small, achievable steps. If the steps are within our ability or if we can humble ourselves to consult with someone who has the skill set needed we can achieve one small step. Some tasks may take the cooperation and skill sets of many individuals but working together those very complicated tasks can be accomplished. I am always amazed that a skyscraper begins with a surveyor a draftsperson and an architect, then backhoe operators, and so forth. When the actual erection of a building begins it has to be kept level with each small piece establishing the right relationship with the preceding pieces. I am always amazed that one can build such a structure level and grounded enough to be safe to use. Yet every day such magic happens.
Reclaiming our authentic selves requires the same focus, patience and piece by piece process. I was listening to the director of a television series entitled Pose written, produced and directed by a transsexual woman Janet Mock. Pose recreates and tells the story of transsexual individuals claiming their right to be. Although there are political and religious forces still determined to bury transsexual individuals in a web of fear and lies, individuals such as Janet Mock continue to examine and correct those lies one by one. Once a transsexual person has begun the process of claiming new truths they have the power to claim the life them deserve.
My work in the mental health field often involves the same step by step process. This process may be aided by medication, exercise, emotional and spiritual support, as well as good nutrition but a significant part of the healing process is identifying and correcting the lies of the depression, anxiety, grief, or anger. Even if these lies are a result of a physical condition one can identify and correct them rather than feeding them. Often, I ask individual to daily text or email me with a new truth about themselves or their abilities. Step by step, one day at a time the lies lose much of their power. Surrounding oneself with those who validate one’s worth and power also can be a huge part of the healing process.
Individually and together, one step at a time, we are powerful. It is interesting to note that almost all significant social and spiritual progress has been accomplished by a small group of people living new truth one day/step at a time.
Written May 15, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
Coachpickett.org
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