The next right step

I love the idea of the Next Right Step. But it also feels counterintuitive in many ways, at least for me.

I’ve lived a lot of my life wanting to know the whole picture before I start something new. I like to be prepared. I like to minimize risk.

I like to - dare I say it - be in “control”.

I’ve learned the hard way that there is literally no way to know how the whole thing will turn out.

There is good sense to being prepared. But there are lots of things in life that you just can’t know in advance.

~ If I leave this career that is unfulfilling, will I be any good at the next one?

~ If I ask my partner for what I need, how will he respond?

~ If I launch a blog, will anyone read it?

You can’t really know the answers to these kinds of questions. And waiting until you have ALL the information means you’ll be stuck - and frustrated - for a long time.

But really, all you have to know is - what is the next right step?

What is one thing that you can do now to move toward the change that is calling to you?

• Is it saying out loud “I want this thing to change”?

• Is it letting yourself feel the grief of something coming to an end?

• Is it letting yourself feel the excitement of a new and awesome possibility?

• Is it researching the training that you might need for your new job?

• Is it telling your partner you want to have a conversation about something?

You don’t have to know what the step is after that. If you’re feeling stuck, just do this one step, this one next right thing.

And then, sit in that place.

And then, do the next next right step.

Step by step, by little tiny nudge, by giant leap forward, by circling back, by stepping forward again, your path will open in front of you.

Trust that you know what the next right step is. And take it.