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Dream Big, Take Small Steps

January 12, 2018 By: Paul18 Comments

We’re snowed in again and the power has gone. I’m looking out over a landscape made fresh by deep snow.

A new year is here. And as always, with it comes the urge to make changes.

Usually, we try to make big changes. Often, a few of them at once. Which, you know as well I do, rarely works out.

Obvs, right? We’ve all had that experience. But funnily enough, it doesn’t stop us trying the same approach again every new year.

You may have heard that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Well maybe that’s a little strong. I know lots of people who do that, myself included, who (hopefully) aren’t really mad.

Still, it doesn’t work. We know that.

Small Change

We’re much more likely to succeed if we make small changes. They’re much more likely to stick and become permanent. And they build up over time, surprisingly quickly.

  • You want to become vegan. Big change: Try immediately cutting out all dairy. You’ll struggle. Before you know it, the cravings will get the better of you and you’ll fail. That’s just human.

    Small change: Maybe just drop milk in one of your teas or coffees every day.

  • You want to lose weight. Big change: Go on a crash diet, lose a lot of weight in a very short time and then put all it back on again in February.

    Small change: Change one meal a week. Once a week, have a low fat, healthy breakfast.

  • You want to draw more (oh, that old chestnut!) Big change: Make yourself do one hour of drawing a day. Easy right? Keep it going for three days and then run out of ideas for things to draw. Or get interrupted. Or forget and miss a day or two, and then forget it altogether.

    Small change: Simply open your sketchpad at the same part of your routine each day, every day for a week. Don’t even draw anything, just open it.

    See? You’ve started to form a habit. And you’ve put your sketch pad somewhere you know where it is. Simple. You’re on the way.

What I want to change

There are a few things I’m dissatisfied with that I’d like to change this year.

Dissatisfaction is what drives me, in many ways. Dissatisfaction and fear. Were it not for that, I doubt I’d do much at all.

I know it’s not a glamorous admission, but I suspect that its the truth, a lot of the time.

So what am I dissatisfied with?

  • My body. It doesn’t work like it used to. It doesn’t even look like it used to. In fact, it feels like I’ve got someone else’s body now. Illness has taken a toll. The meds I’m on affect me in strange ways. I’ve always been pretty fit and I’m used to being complacent about it. I can’t be any longer.
  • My work. I’m not exactly dissatisfied with it. But I’m seeing something new I want to do, half-formed images of what it might look like are taking shape in my head and I really want to start exploring them.
  • Our finances. We’re depleting our resources. It’s been a tough couple of years, so I’ve given myself a break. But it’s very easy to spend money, much less easy to save it.
  • My routine. A long time ago, I realised that it’s my habits that shape the life I lead. Personal habits I currently dislike: I’m staying up late and not getting enough sleep. I’m not exercising. I’m not eating as healthily as I was.

My small changes

  • My Body: get up a bit earlier every day, before the kids get up. Seriously, that’s it. I’m making the time at the start of the day that I’ll eventually use for exercise. I’m just going to start by creating the space for it.
  • My work: Get a sketchpad-stroke-journal ready to start exploring the ideas with. Open it at the end of each day (no, I don’t actually have to do anything yet…)
  • Our finances: Get back into the habit of doing the accounts every day. Because watching what we spend daily helps me make better decisions and spend less.
  • My routine: Actually, I’ve pretty much sorted this one out already. I do the same things every morning now, before I open the laptop, even: Sit and feel grateful, write in my daily journal, do my drawing practice. Those three things are easy to remember and I do them in the same order every day. It took me about two weeks to get into a habit with them, but I’ve had a lot of practice at this. Creating habits is something that gets easier the more you do it.

But surely these changes are too small?

It may seem that small changes are the weaker path, that they won’t make enough difference. But small changes add up to very big ones over time and it’s by far the most effective way to make permanent change in your life.

Here’s my advice, for what it’s worth:

Dream big.

Then all you have to do is to decide on the next small step that will move you in that direction, and take it.

What big changes would you like to make this year? What small step will get you moving towards them?

Best wishes and thanks for reading,

Paul

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About Paul

I'm a (mostly) self-taught artist. I paint realism in oils, mostly still life. I share my work, my evolving process and what knowledge I've gained on my own learning journey here, in the hope that it might help you along on
yours.

Comments

  1. 1

    Tone says

    January 12, 2018 at 4:59 pm

    Thank you for some good advice. I started the new year following some of your other advice; quitting my job. You gave me that extra push I needed, and it feels good to finally take that step. So, resolutions will of course be to become a better artist. And more excercise. In small, doable steps 🙂 Good luck with yours.
    And again; Thank you.

    Reply
    • 2

      Paul says

      January 12, 2018 at 8:14 pm

      Wow! Congratulations Tone, that’s a huge and very brave leap. Please do email me if I can help with anything.

      Reply
  2. 3

    Suzanne says

    January 12, 2018 at 5:10 pm

    This is just what I needed today. Thank you for reminding me to open my sketchbook and to start small. This is a great post! I love all the things you do.

    Reply
  3. 4

    Lori Kiergaard says

    January 12, 2018 at 5:13 pm

    Great post Paul! Thank you.

    Reply
  4. 5

    H.j says

    January 12, 2018 at 5:36 pm

    Thankyou for the gently motivational thoughts. Small but consistent steps in the desired direction.

    Reply
  5. 6

    Patricia Therasse says

    January 12, 2018 at 5:53 pm

    Thanks Paul. Your advice is timely and spot on!

    Reply
  6. 7

    Shawna says

    January 12, 2018 at 5:58 pm

    I am doing a small thing…I am writing down what I eat. Much like your daily financial review, it makes me aware. It isn’t about losing weight but about being attentive to what goes into my body and how much.

    ‘Small moves Ellie. Small Moves…’

    Good luck with your small change journey!

    Reply
  7. 8

    Carolyn says

    January 12, 2018 at 6:36 pm

    Excellent advice! I can relate to everything you said! Thanks for sharing…going to open a sketch pad! 🙂

    Reply
  8. 9

    Lucy says

    January 12, 2018 at 7:01 pm

    Thank you for this advice. I hope I can apply it to my own goals which also include drawing more and getting better at it.
    Im often too hard on myself and get frustrated for not being able to do a lot at the same time and maintain hobbies alongside work and family.
    I will try your advice and hope that if I create small habits for each goal I can achieve them all in the long run.

    Reply
  9. 10

    Victoria says

    January 12, 2018 at 8:10 pm

    Thank you!

    Reply
  10. 11

    Sandra Dirom says

    January 12, 2018 at 9:01 pm

    Paul, I think you should write a book gathering together all your wonderful words of wisdom and encouragement. It’s facinating reading and you seem to touch on so many hidden issues that a lot of us have, all persons inside and outside the art community. Thank you for being so candid with us, it’s a very brave thing to do but so helpful.

    Sandra D.

    Reply
  11. 12

    Suzanne B says

    January 12, 2018 at 9:48 pm

    This is good, gentle advice! Thank-you. I’m going to think about how I might apply it to my own art goal of trying to do more oil painting in my spare time. Your emails are much appreciated; thanks once again!

    Reply
  12. 13

    Penny says

    January 13, 2018 at 12:49 am

    Thank you Paul for such sound advice. All. The best for your year too.

    Reply
  13. 14

    Lynn Purvis-Yund says

    January 13, 2018 at 3:09 am

    I enjoyed reading your thoughts, as always. I’ve also been making plans for big change – setting much higher sights for my art. Starting with getting back to basic discipline, like taking your mastering color course, experimenting with supports to improve my painting, learning more about the craft after all these years and planning to enter competitions. It’s really as you say – with continual little steps, even though many are frustrating, I’ll reach my goals, thanks

    Reply
  14. 15

    Josephine says

    January 13, 2018 at 9:51 am

    Thank you Paul for your inspiration and gentle advice.
    I was in hospital recently and wasn’t driving for 4 weeks. My sketchbook was a Godsend. I sketched my fruit, dressing gown, slippers, room, visitors!
    Now I’m starting short walks on my new Hip every day and I will go into my studio every morning to paint…..or not
    Josephine

    Reply
  15. 16

    Yvonne Todd says

    January 15, 2018 at 11:32 am

    Very good timely advice. Small steps turn into large ones.

    Reply
  16. 17

    Steve says

    January 16, 2018 at 5:26 pm

    “Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence.”

    ― Ovid

    I’ve been dripping for at least four years now, I can confirm that it works. Don’t throw a bucket – just drip drip drip – good luck to you all 😀

    Reply
  17. 18

    Pauline says

    January 20, 2018 at 11:17 am

    I loved this blog Paul. It has inspired me no end. I will now start small and then big things should happen.

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Paul

I'm a (mostly) self-taught artist. I paint realism in oils, mostly still life. I share my work, my evolving process and what knowledge I've gained on my own learning journey here, in the hope that it might help you on yours.
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