The Next Step

How exciting! To have no idea where you’re going to be or how you’re going to get there. To be almost completely uncertain. I do know one thing, though. I know what my next step is, and that is more powerful than I ever imagined. I have complete certainty that today I’m going all in, giving my best and following my heart.

I am slowly but very surely building some sort of guideline, some sort of code, for myself to live by. A method to maintain the magic. Something to guide me through the galaxy. My north star and my southern cross. It’s a hell of a process though. My understanding of things is always evolving, and therefore I have to adapt my processes and my beliefs. Which is good, to be honest. Keeps me on my toes, keeps me aware of growth or stagnation. Of straight-line speed or wayward pathing. What is really important, I think, is that my code stays true to who I am. Because I know who I am intrinsically, though I am still discovering myself, I am aware of some important aspects of my being. Let me provide an example for the sake of understanding what I mean; I know that I am kind at heart, so my code should include practicing kindness. Not only that, but also speaking up against cruelty, or lack of kindness when it costs nothing.

Before I say too much I’ll stop there, you get the gist of it. Now to resume the focus of this thought – the next step. Indeed it is nice to know what you want and how you want to go about getting it. To have a plan and to stick by it. Though, through my own experience and observation, life tends to happen, and plans tend to get messed up. So, here lies a good reason to remember my words: if you find yourself unsure of where to go or how to get there, for whatever reason, ask yourself who you would trust most to deal with your situation, and what would they do right now? What would their next step be? What would your next step be? Evaluate those two answers, follow your gut or your heart whichever tugs stronger at the time, and take that next step. Forget about what to do after the next step, or what might go wrong, and just do it. Action and forward motion is vital. Build momentum. Overcome something small so that you build confidence to overcome something bigger.

Steve Harvey said something once that I will probably never forget, and I remember it occasionally when the going gets tough. He said; “If you are going through hell, why stop? Don’t stop in hell, keep going until you get out.” And that really stuck with me. A lot of the time, the only way is through. Through the weeks of being unfit, through the tired hours of study, through the tough conversations or decisions, through the dirt and the shit and the sweat and the blood and the tears. And almost always once you’re through it things get better again. Rather quickly. Plus you did all that, gained knowledge, experience and grit. You grew. Magical isn’t it? How uncertainty leads to growth and improvement. How the courage to keep going when it feels like the walls are coming down around you is exactly what gets you through it. Believe in yourself. If you won’t do it for you then do it for me, the guy who wrote this and believes in you because he thinks he knows a little something about a little something. I’m not afraid to admit that I have unwavering faith in the human ability. And if I can convince you to start believing in yourself enough, to convince yourself you can do something and then you actually go and do it. I’ll be one happy bloke that’s for sure.

One thing I think a lot of people misunderstand about winning is that it does not have a fixed definition. Most things don’t but winning seems to be an important concept to touch on. Winning, in general, is not quitting. But not quitting doesn’t always feel like winning, and discouragement because of that is the enemy. You don’t have to win big, to be a winner. You don’t have to win at something everyone knows or cares about. It need only matter to you, and be recognised by you. You did something well, or better than you did before, or even you just did the thing and overcame stagnation. WIN. You went for that run and you pulled a muscle and you didn’t go the distance or the speed you aimed for. Guess what? You showed up. WIN. Most people need to redefine and rephrase what it means for them to win. If only I could teach everybody what I got taught once upon a time as a kid, that which gave the courage and the attitude to keep showing up, the belief that at some point, as long as I never give up, I will achieve what I set out to achieve. Such a powerful lesson and I’m so incredibly grateful I had the opportunity to learn it. If you’re curious about what I’m rambling about then reach out. I’ll try and help you as best as I can, to understand it or to practice it. The world lies waiting at your fingertips, you need only to convince your mind to reach out and grab it.