Tag: small steps

Finely balanced ecosystems 

Posted on by philipdodson


I watched a video yesterday about the amazing effects that had occurred due to the re-introduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park. How, not having wolves there for so long had led to a complete imbalance that was destroying vegetation due to no predators for the deer, which in turn meant less trees, less birds, less beavers and so on.

Within 6 years of their re-introduction there were quiet stunning effects, the deer stayed out of certain areas so that the habitation came back in everything.

As humans we do not realise our impact that our decisions have on the natural habitat that we are a part of and this is a great success story, but there are many more disastourous stories.

The interesting thing too, we have our own ecosystems and we are even less tuned into them than the natural ones, well maybe the same, as few are tuned into the natural ones either.

So, cuting back on sleep, or starting eating something new, or changing exercise or a whole variety of different things can seem tiny or of little importance, but over time they will lead to much bigger changes.

Just one extra biscuit a day could lead to diabetes in 5 years, walking less each week could lead to obesity in a few years and so on. 

We have an ecosystem that needs respecting and finely balancing.

Life is made up of small things that amount to giant leaps over time. However, smaller things are harder to spot and easier not to focus on.

Building a wall of complication bricks

Posted on by philipdodson


We create complications to avoid doing something that will take us from our comfort zones.

We build a wall, one ‘complication’ brick at a time, to convince ourselves not to do something. If we put enough bricks in it, we won’t be able to do it. Result, back to the safety of zone.

Complications are excuses to help us avoid the fear of doing, even though fear could be our inspiration to do, as we fear most the things that matter most.

Life, however, is a series of simple choices, if we want it to be, and trying something seems hard but in reality is just one tiny step at a time, again if we choose.

Simple or complex? Action or excuse? Progress or stuck?

If we break something down into easy, small and undaunting steps and then keep taking them regularly enough, there is no need to build a wall. If something is perceived us hard work, we are conditioned to avoid it, if something seems easy then we are more inclined to do it.

Cumulative small easy action builds up into one giant piece of action over time.

After all, the moments of greatness in our lives do not happen when we are given ‘the medal’ they happen the day we choose to take that simple first step and the greatness continues with every subsequent and frequently taken small step.

Why not make that first step? Why not knock down all those complication bricks?

Start your greatness today, it’s a choice that’s all.