Years ago I heard a story about a little girl and her mother walking along a beach one day when they came upon thousands of star fish stranded on the beach, dying. The little girl immediately began picking them up and throwing them back in the ocean.
The mother said to the little girl,”You can’t possibly save them all.”
The little girl stopped for a moment and as she threw another starfish into to the sea said, ”It made a difference to that one.”
I went on the internet to see if I could find the author and instead I found numerous versions. I particularly liked the version in which other people joined in and they saved all the star fish.
What changes would you like to make in your life?
Change can be relatively easy, if we are willing to do one small thing at a time. The little girl in the story could have been so overwhelmed she did nothing. Instead she chose to throw one star fish back in the ocean knowing she was making a difference to that particular star fish.
Discipline is just choosing between what you want now and what you want most
Here are a few steps you can use to change anything.
- This one seems obvious but define what you want to change. What is your desired result and how will you know you have achieved it.
- Briefly create an overall plan, a map of how to get from where you are to where you want to be.
- Next, focus on one small action can you take right now with the emphasis on small, doable and right now.
- Give yourself a bit of praise for having accomplished that task.
- Each day take a small, measurable step toward you desired result.
- Keep repeating the process until you arrive in the station called success.
- Then really celebrate when you get there.
A few observations about change.
- Avoid moving the goal post just before you get there. I always think of Lucy, Charlie Brown and the football. She always promises she’ll hold the ball, she always moves it and Charlie Brown finds himself laying on his back one more time.
- Stay the course. Over the years I have seen so many people quit just before the miracle was about to occur. (The universe does conspire to fill in the blanks so you can be happy)
- Enjoy the process, once you get the hang of letting go and letting yourself fly it is really a lot of fun.
Love to hear about the changes you’d like to make and a bit about your plan or your struggles to come up with one or anything else you’d like to share!
I’m a comment junkie what can I say
On Thursday I am going to be opening my let’s transform your life together and enjoy creating the life of your dreams program but there is only room for six people.
Susan Gregg is a magician, but not the trickster kind. She understands and practices the magic of love, in a way that creates dramatic shifts in the lives of those willing to allow them.
Susan is a powerful teacher offering herself to those willing to change. Trying to explain what Susan does in ordinary words is quite challenging, so my advice to anyone interested is to dive in and experience what she has to offer. . .
— Thanks, Marilyn
The first six people that click on the link will have me as their guide to an amazing life. I look forward to working with you!
With love, joy and a sense of excitement,
Susan
Dear Susan! I would be happy to work with you. I am not good in English/ I am studying by miself/, but I like your letters, stories, advice and daily reflections. I am thankful for your work!
Aloha!
Laima Millere
When I get to Latvia and Lithuania in September maybe we can work together.
With a big hug, Susan
Sometimes a word or a phrase will move you beyond what you have done – fruitlessly- to date. I have always made change too big, too far beyond
my sphere of influence and, like the girl’s mother questioned whether it was possible and mainly gave up. The story and the comments which followed burst through that self- defeating assumption. Can I put it into action and sustain the change effort?
When we look at change as a series of small manageable steps anything is possible.
Thanks for your comment, Susan
Susan,
This was a wonderful story, and so very spot on…… I will first concentrate on determining what I want to change first. I have a long list , which like the thousands of star fish, can be overwhelming. One change at a time will seem more feasible. I’ll let you know how it goes! Thanks, as always, for your inspirations. Becky
Hi Becky,
I like many others have plenty of changes to make and Susan’s story really hit home. But reading your comment gave me an idea. I’m going to cutout starfish from construction paper and each one will have a change that I want to make. Each time I successfully execute a change I will move that starfish to my completed board. Sounds simple I know, but I am a visual learner and seeing my goals being accomplished will help motivate me to keep up the momentum. I remember attending meetings back in the 80s about making a wish book. The book was made of pictures cut from magazines or photos or block letters describing a wish. I didn’t put much faith in it and eventually stopped attending. I look back now and realize making a book of our hopes, dreams and wishes complied in a physical form of visualization was exactly what I needed. I think I will get back to that. We tend to forget so easily what goals and changes we want to manifest. Suzanne 🙂
What a great idea …. thanks for sharing that!
With a big smile, Susan
Yes, one step or starfish at a time.
With love, Susan
dear Susam, hello my name is bob and i would love to work with you but at this point in time i need to sign up for a free scholarship if you have one!!!my wife is disabled ,i just lost me job and we are both in our 60tys!! i pray that you can help us, GOD bless you sincerely BOB SCHREINER— oneguns@hotmail but i will understand if you cannot help us!!