Act Like an Ant

In his book "9 Things You Simply Must Do", a book I highly recommend you read, Dr. Henry Cloud gives us 9 principles we all need to follow.  One of these he calls "Act Like an Ant". 

When we look at something we want to do or change in our life, we can become overwhelmed.  The task looks so large and so daunting we can easy become discourage and give up.  We can see where we are and where we want to be but have no idea on how to get there.  We may tell ourselves, "someday I will", but time moves on, runs out, and the change or dream is never fulfilled.  Too many people settle for what they have and not what they could have simply because wanting it all and wanting it now, keeps them from having any. 

Cloud refers to a quote by Isak Dinesen, "When you have a great and difficult task, something perhaps almost impossible, if you only work a little at a time, everyday a little, suddenly the work will finish itself". This is the same process an ant uses.  Ants are amazing little creatures.  Have you ever watched them or thought about them? They have no commander, no overseer or ruler telling them what to do. Each of them somehow seems to know what needs to be done and then they do it.  Working together they build massive cities. This act is accomplished one ant with one pebble, one step at a time, one grain of sand at a time.   It takes time, but they do accomplish their goals.

Cloud uses the example of John Grisham to prove his point.  Grisham is one of the biggest selling authors of modern time.  While working more than full time as an attorney, he had the dream of writing a novel.  Many people in Grisham's circumstance would have let their dream die, but Grisham went the way of the ant.  He got up a little earlier each morning and wrote just a little bit each day.  Slowly, one page at a time over a three year period he completed his first book, "A Time To Kill". The longest journey starts with the first step and them continuing, one step at a time.

Life Coaching is about helping people find ways to break a big task down into smaller pieces. Think of it like this, how do you swallow and elephant?  One small bite at a time.  A life coach can help you reach your dreams and goals one small bite at a time.