There’s an old saying, How do you eat an elephant?
The answer is – one bite at a time.
When a goal feels big or overwhelming, our job isn’t to tackle it all at once. Our job is to understand why it matters, and then choose one small step to take right now.
This week, I realized that I have gained a little weight. Between the holidays, the emotional weight I have been carrying, and the fact that I look to comfort foods and drinks when I’m feeling cold and down, the pounds slipped on unnoticed – until I couldn’t button my jeans.It’s not a lot of weight, but it feels pretty daunting.
Taking everything consideration feels like the proverbial elephant. And that elephant needs consumed, one bite at a time.
First, I needed to look at my why. Again, there are several pieces of why, but it ultimately comes down to wanting to feel better, physically and emotionally.
So now comes the how: One bite at a time. And, I get to decide what the bites look like.
I took some time to look at where the extra pounds came from. There are a few areas, but one stood out pretty clearly. I had been drinking a latte nearly every day. I have easy access to a coffee shop where the barista knows my order and has it ready as soon as he sees me coming. That’s a lot of calories, and a lot of money.
This week, it’s the lattes. I can trade lattes for hot tea. I can make sure I drink two full bottles of water each day. I can acknowledge my barista friend and make sure he knows my tea order (which by the way is 70% less expensive and about 100% fewer calories).
Next week, I will take another bite.
The point is this, one small change at a time is totally doable, and one small change at a time adds up to big gains (or in this case, losses).
If you’re staring at your own “elephant” and feeling unsure where to begin, you don’t have to figure it out alone. I offer a gentle goal-setting process that helps turn big, heavy goals into clear, manageable steps. If that feels supportive, you’re welcome to reach out and learn more. The easiest way to reach me is to schedule a free consultation phone call (or Zoom if you prefer) by clicking here.