Are you one of those people who think that change can only happen if it is done in a big and bold way? Are you convinced you need a complete life style makeover to lose weight? Is it even possible to achieve anything in life if you don’t set some big bold goals?

Go big or go broke?

This is the question I asked myself before I set off on my kayak expedition this summer. It seemed to me that others who were going on adventures had always set themselves an enormous challenge. People would cycle from Land’s end to John O’Groats (about 1000 miles). They would paddle around an island, a country or even a continent; they would row, cycle and kayak around the world. It seemed to me that adventures had to be these impossible challenges; and the adventurers who would take them on had to be some kind of super humans.

A big challenge like that only allows two options; either you achieve your goal, or you fail. But what about the days in between? The days you did do? Do they not count?

I don’t think I would have ever set off if I hadn’t challenged the idea of the necessity to set a big bold goal. Not only am I chronically afraid of failing, it seems to me that it takes away the fun, curiosity and freedom of an adventure like this.

Instead, I decided to simply go for a long paddle. I gave myself 2.5 months to explore the country, discover Britain’s nature and wildlife and to meet new people. I would paddle out of the Thames, keep the land on the right and see where I would end up.

This changed everything. Now, every day was an adventure. I did have a direction – I kept the land on the right-, but not having a set goal allowed me to take the trip paddle stroke by paddle stroke. I would paddle if I felt good and I would stop if I had enough. I would paddle when the tide helped me on my way, and would rest if the tide was flowing in the opposite direction.

As soon as I changed my goal, it freed up the opportunities. I no longer felt the pressure. I could just have fun and enjoy the ride.

82 Days and a 1000 miles on, I arrived in Anglesey, North Wales.

So now I know it is true:

I might not have been the fastest ever to have paddled there from London, but it is a heck of a lot more than most people have paddled. And it is definitely a heck of a lot more than I would have done if self-doubt would have stopped me before I even set off.

So how about you?

Do you want to lose some weight? Lower your cholesterol? Get a new partner? How big are you setting your goals? Will you only be satisfied if you lose 1 stone? 2 stone? Or more? Have you tried to reach it by cutting all carbs out of your diet? Or going fat free? Or going for a 1600 calorie diet? Or even lower than that?

How did that work for you? How did it make you feel? Did you even start? Did you achieve your goal?

What if, instead of radically changing your life, it would be possible to get the biggest, most lasting effect by just taking one tiny step at the time?

Changing your life or diet completely, all at once, is like running straight up a steep hill. You might run out of breath before you reach the top, or the thought of the pain of running up that hill makes you give up on the idea before you even started. Stumbling over a rock, you might even fall and roll all the way down the hill, bruised and battered.

What if you chose to walk up that hill in a much more comfortable pace? What if you would choose the path that winds itself so gently uphill that you barely even notice you are climbing? What if you could take the time to admire the plants and the views along on the way? All it would take is just placing one step in front of the other.

Would your chances of reaching the top not be much bigger? And would you not reach your goals in a much more pleasant way?

What is the one small step you can take right now?

So, my question for you today: What tiny step could you take today in the direction you want your life, health, wealth, or body to go?

Does that tiny step sound doable? On a scale from one to then, what is the chance you will take that step? If the chances you will take that step are any less than a 9 on the scale, change it into an even smaller step.
Then do it!

Leave me a message, what step have you taken?