Small Daily Practices Lead to Big Life Changes
September 30, 2009 by Sue Painter
Filed under Life Purpose, Soul Retrieval
I have a wonderful little story about one of my newer clients. He came to work with me because he had suddenly lost his job, and felt overwhelmed, depressed, and lost. As I scanned his energy, though, I could easily discern that he had more going on than losing his work.
- At the age of 42 he still lived with his mother, saying that he did so to help take care of her since she is slightly impaired. When I asked him how he saw that fitting for him, he said “I am waiting for her to die so that I will be free.”
- He had remained in very low-paying work even though he has accomplished very high results in his work.
- His dream is to travel the world but he has never owned a passport.
- He is out of shape physically
- He admits that he “tries to restart himself but then begins to feel hopeless”
- He admits to an inner voice that is extremely self-sabotaging.
So, what to do? I see this person as someone who is bright, capable, funny, talented, and aching to find his path in life. He has very little money to spend on self-development right now. As we talked, my strongest energetic sense was that he needs to address far more in his life than the loss of his job. He needs help to dream, and to take steps toward his dreams, too!
Here is our plan:
- 15 minutes each morning in mediation or prayer, asking for insight and guidance about his perfect work
- Wait in the quiet of this time for the voice of the self-sabatoger to show up
- Write down every single thing the self-sabatoging voice says and thank it for every point it makes
- Walk 15 minutes each day
- Get pictures made and apply for a passport
- Check a book out of the library about the country he most would like to visit.
We plan to meet in a month, but a check after only 10 days revealed the following:
- “My biggest change has been the self-sabotaging talk. I spend about 5 minutes in the morning writing down my limiting thoughts, then, when they pop up during the day, I gently say “nope, you had your chance to speak out this morning. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” It has made a world of difference. The first day I listened to my self-sabotaging thoughts, they were pretty tame. The second day, the thoughts were mean and harsh. Thursday and Friday, it was almost difficult getting those thoughts to come through. Today, they were a bunch of “what ifs” and actually had some good points. I write them down and say thank you for sharing. It is awesome.”
- “I love the meditation time.”
- “I’m parking my car farther away from the grocery store and walking 10,000 steps in a day.”
- “I checked out a book on Africa and got passport pictures made. I can’t believe how excited I am just to get a passport!”
These actions are small daily practices that take about half an hour a day. But look at the big changes, in only 10 days! It is so important to set our feet on the path of truth and freedom, which for each life is different. I can hardly wait to see what has happened when the entire month has gone by!
Small actions, big results. Amazing!
(c) Sue Painter
I can vouch for the power of small, simple steps that make big changes happen. Many years ago, recovering from chronic fatigue, I decided to make my bed and floss my teeth every single day for a week, no matter what. Tiny steps, to be sure, but the wins they represented shifted my energy from “what I can’t do” to “what I can do”. In no time, I was taking on much more significant commitments.
Sue – these tasks are amazing! I am going to take them on myself. I’ll let you know what happens.
I have been doing the daily meditation – but adding in the piece of writing down the self-sabotaging comments is just brilliant.
Sue,
You do amazing work and this story is so inspiring. Your clients are lucky to have you to guide them through the stuck spots so they can actually reclaim their lives.
Write on!~
Lisa
Another fabulous example of the power of the mind Sue. I just love how all the articles this week are speaking directy to me! Talk about Divine guidance. This was a great post, thanks!
Lynn
Thanks for your comment, Marcia. Yes, we can use simplicity in many wonderful and healing ways.
Sue Painter
Terry,
I can’t WAIT to see what happens. Come back and post here, let us know.
Sue Painter
Thank you, Lisa. As do you.
Awww — these are the stories that tug at the heartstrings….the very reason we do what we do as entrepreneurs. It’s wonderful that your client is transforming AND that you get to see the fruits of your labor. -Carmen
Thanks for sharing this story, Sue. I love the way the dialogue with the self-saboteur progressed! Great tools for moving forward.
Wasn’t it cute that he got excited about something as simple as getting a passport? You really opened doors for him!
Blessings,
Rosemary
Sue I so love how you have captured the coaching journey in your post – what a gift that you could hold the space for him and allow him to see the bigger picture through the adoption of the smaller steps.
I love the work with the inner saboteur – I am going to talk to mine in the morning!!
Hugs
Heidi Alexandra
Sue,
Good for you for changing his mindset and getting him focused on the positive! He can accomplish what he wants on his own without relying on his mother’s resources. Great tools you’re using to re-focus and visualize his possibilities!
Linda
Thank you for sharing this inspirational story Sue. These steps are going to help me help some of my team members as well. I hope that you continue to update us on your client’s success. He sure is lucky to have found you.
What a wonderful story. I had a huge grin from ear to ear when I read “nope, you had your chance to speak out this morning. You’ll have to wait until tomorrow.” Wonderful words of encouragement Sue. I’m so glad you two found each other.
Hi Rosemary,
Thanks for your comments. Yes, sometimes the SMALLEST thing (a passport picture) opens a whole new world for someone who has kept himself in a tiny box for so long.
Sue Painter
Hi Heidi,
Let me know how that morning practice with your saboteur goes.
Sue Painter
Thanks, Linda.
Sue P.
Hi Christine,
I’m glad to hear that this might help your own team members. Great!
Sue Painter
Sue,
Quite an inspiring story. You provide such great support for people.
Mitch
That is SO BEAUTIFUL, Sue! How rewarding to work with such an angel (both of you!) And, I couldn’t agree more about the power of the little things. I very often give clients clarity tools to work through before our first conversation, and I KNOW from experience that simply working through them causes tremendous shifts — people report big changes just from working through and getting clarity before even doing any of the rest of what we do together! XOXO, Katherine.
Life Blossoming Systems
Sue – What a great post! In our quest to achieve big and awesome things, we often overlook the fact that every journey begins with a single step and that small changes can make a huge difference. Thanks for the powerful reminder!
Phil
PS – Really like the new site!
Thanks, Katherine. You’re one, too.
(Angel, that is)
wow!
as I was reading your post Sue, all I could say is wow~ he was waiting for his mom to die so he could be free?!
small actions make big shifts
every little shift in awareness opens the doors of freedom
Yes, sometimes we truly are completely unaware of the box we have our soul in.
Sue Painter