One Small Step

During periods of prolonged dissatisfaction in our lives we can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to make poorly strategized or ill-timed changes in an effort to simply get it over with. Or we settle. If we do come to realize beyond any reasonable doubt that something needs to shift, we often hasten the transition process because we’re so burnt-out or fed up with the way things have been that the idea of waiting for wiser timing and process feels intolerable. We tell ourselves that anything is preferable to what we have now. And so we bolt, or we leap, or we run toward the next situation or circumstance we are convinced is a better way. In my experience, this is an unsustainable course of action and the sweet relief we may feel initially is short-lived and soon gives way to the same old stagnation and we are back at square one, more dispirited than ever.

In the spiritual work I do there is a premium placed on what is called Essence – or the feeling experience we want in our heart of hearts. When we are experiencing the essences that matter to us, like joy, freedom, or beauty to name but a few, we automatically find ourselves in a state of flow and we are also aware of it. This is the reason it is so important to place our attention on essence in small ways as a means of creating it in larger ways. In other words, we might ask ourselves, ‘What is one small step I could take today that would move me in the direction of essence?’

My teacher Grandfather White Elk uses the essence of Freedom to illustrate this point. He says, “Freedom is an essence most people treasure. Ironically, it is also the first essence they will sacrifice when they become afraid. So how do small freedoms lead to big ones? Let us begin with the freedom of choice, a freedom we always have, whether or not we think so at the time. We can notice those times when we invested our time and energy in things that brought us little or no essence. You very likely told yourself, in these cases, ‘I have no choice!’ And this not only collapsed the field of all possibility, it guaranteed that the energy and time you have would continue to flow out into this non-essence thing, and that little or no energy would be returned.

Freedom of choice is the starting place for all transformation. If you think you have none, you are not being truthful. You may say things like ‘But I have to pay the mortgage.’ Or, ‘I don’t want to hurt my partner.’ Or, ‘I cannot make it without this person’s help.’ Or, ‘I can’t quit my job because there is nothing else out there.’ You have exercised your freedom of choice when you think these things. What you think you are choosing is for things to continue the way they are. But there is a big catch here: the Universe doesn’t work this way. The Universe creates itself in a cycle of creation, transformation, and annihilation. So, while you are sitting there thinking you are maintaining the status quo, the Universe is quite happily undermining the foundations that are shoring up you illusions of security.”

Sound familiar? Grandfather White Elk is not suggesting that we abruptly quit our jobs or end our relationships. He is also not advocating using positive thinking, affirmations, or creative visualization as the way to bring about a better quality of life for ourselves. What he is suggesting is that we take a deeper and more honest look at our structures and patterns of thinking, behaving, and choosing. And that, depending on what we find through this inquiry, we be willing to change in a responsible manner whatever we have created in our lives that no longer serves us – both practically and spiritually. So, again, I would encourage you to ask yourself, “What is one small step I could take today that would move me in the direction of essence?” You might well be surprised at how powerful this one small step can be.

Contributed by Rebecca Traver

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