Small Steps, Big Impact: Emily’s Story of Reaching Her Goal

Emily had a burning desire to become a renowned painter, but she often felt overwhelmed and anxious by the enormity reaching her goal. She would head to art shows, wondering how anyone could reach such recognition. This left her feeling stuck as she continued working her well-paying, albeit unexciting, manager position at a Fortune 500 company. Her free time consisted of watching TV, going to the gym, and visiting art museums with good friends. Her life was not dull, but she knew she was avoiding going after what she wanted.

One Saturday, Emily decided that instead of grocery shopping and cleaning the house, she would focus on doing one thing that aligned with her dream. She grabbed her sketchbook and pencils and went outside to simply draw what she saw around her. No more, no less. After thirty minutes of sketching, Emily felt accomplished. She didn’t worry about creating a masterpiece; instead, she had fun improving her skills one drawing at a time, giving herself an internal ‘gold star’ for every improvement she made. It was her first small step to reach her goal.

As days turned into weeks, Emily’s confidence grew, and her anxiety waned. She started experimenting with different techniques and subjects, pushing herself to explore new styles and perspectives. Some days were challenging, and overwhelm would creep in, but Emily reminded herself to take smaller steps. She found that breaking tasks into manageable pieces made her anxiety more manageable and helped her stay focused on her goal.

Eventually, Emily’s hard work began to pay off. Her sketches caught the eye of a local art gallery owner who offered her a small exhibition space. Excited but anxious, Emily accepted the opportunity, knowing this was another critical step to reach her goal.

The night of her art show arrived, and Emily watched people admire her artwork. She felt a sense of pride, knowing that each piece represented countless small actions taken toward her dream. Some visitors even expressed interest in purchasing her work, leaving Emily feeling even more energized.

With each sale, Emily felt herself climbing higher on the ladder of success. She realized that reaching her goal wasn’t about making one giant leap but embracing the journey of growth and perseverance, one step at a time.

Years passed, and Emily’s reputation as an artist continued to flourish. She traveled the world, showcasing her paintings in prestigious galleries and sharing her story of reaching her goal. Young women would approach her in awe, asking how she accomplished such an outstanding reputation. Emily explained that the minuscule day-to-day work led her to success. As she learned, it wasn’t the height of the ladder that mattered but the patience and openness to understand that small steps are the key to managing anxiety and overwhelm.

The Science of Small Steps When Reaching Your Goals

BJ Fogg, behavioral researcher and founder of the Behavior Design Lab at Stanford University, asserts that our baby steps are the path to success in his book Tiny Habits: The Small Changes that Change Everything. “It’s easier to create habits and change than most people think, and it’s faster than most people think,” he explains. “It can even be fun if you do it correctly,” Fogg states in an interview with NPR.

Most of us have heard the old Chinese proverb, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” This wisdom can help you visualize how to reach your goal. Imagine two ladders of the same height but with a different number of rungs. The ladder with more rungs allows for smaller, more manageable steps to the top. Oftentimes, we dismiss our small efforts as “not enough” or a waste of time. However, conceptualizing progress as climbing a ladder with many small rungs makes even the most daunting goals feel achievable.

While the idea of big goals may lead to overwhelm and shutdown, it’s the small, consistent actions taken toward them that pave the way to reach your goal. You can make significant strides throughout your journey by embracing the importance of tiny efforts.

In Emily’s story, we see how incremental actions enabled her to overcome anxiety, build confidence, and ultimately achieve what once seemed impossible. Let Emily’s journey inspire you to take that first small step today. No matter how ambitious your dreams may be, the key to success is to break them down into manageable pieces and keep moving forward, one small step at a time.