Start where you're at

A picture of me after I completed the Wildflower Olympic Distance Triathlon.

I want to share with you a funny story. A few years ago, I decided to do an olympic distance triathlon. This was part of a program to support the San Francisco AIDS Foundation where I committed to raise $4,000 and participants would get rigorous triathlon training. I thought I could handle a triathlon pretty easily. I had already run 5 marathons (26.2 miles each). Now I just had to add some bicycling and swimming to the mix.

For our first swimming practice, about 40 of us met at the swimming pool at City College in San Francisco. The coach told us to swim a few laps. Based on what he saw, he would divide us up into three groups - A, B and C. A's were beginners, B's were intermediate, and C's were advanced. After swimming, the coach called out the names of everyone and put them into one of these three groups...everyone, that is, except for me and one other person.

The coach called us aside and said, "You two get to be in your own special group. I'm going to call you the A-plus group! You two need a little bit more training than everyone else."

I'll tell you...I was a bit embarrassed, insulted and shocked. I thought, I'm not even a beginner! I'm a pre-beginner. After running five marathons, I already considered myself part of an elite group of athletes. Now, here I was, having to start again.

I share this story with you because it's not uncommon to think that you're the cat's meow. You've proven yourself in some aspect of your life. You've said certain spiritual affirmations over and over, like you are prosperous, you are abundant, or you are perfectly healthy.

So what do you do when reality is telling you otherwise? 

The simplest answer is: On the road to change, you start where you're at.

One of the first conversations I have with potential clients is to ask them to be honest and real about what is happening in their lives. Eventually, we talk about where they want to go and how they want to get there. But your first steps start with where you are.

I'm not saying that your present circumstances define your truth. Your circumstances do not define you. But they do provide you with the landscape. If you're not happy with where you are on the map, you look at where you are and you determine where you want to go. And then you move from there.

For example: If you're not happy with your money situation, you look at where you want to go, but your first steps are determined by what's currently happening. How much are you bringing in? How much are you spending? Are you saving or investing? When you look at your money numbers, what areas do you want to grow or cut back? What habits and practices do you want to keep, and what do you want to change? What money stories are operating in your life?

Be honest with where you're at, and then be intentional and deliberate in taking the steps to be that which you are called to be.

Do you want to know what I did after I joined the A-plus swimming group? I decided to sign up for a beginner's swimming class at City College. I said to myself, "Let me get the basics down. I choose to be a better swimmer."

On top of the training I did with the triathlon group where we swam in the cold and dirty San Francisco Bay, I learned basic swimming techniques at City College, which greatly helped to improve my swimming. On the day of the triathlon, I swam almost a mile in open waters. I may not have been the fastest, but I finished nonetheless. (The picture shows me with my triathlon medal after the race.)

So here are your coaching questions for the week:

• Where in your life are you being called to honestly look at the reality of your situation?
• Once you accept that this is what's happening, what choices can you make to move you towards where you want to be?
• What small step can you take today?
• What spiritual truth or affirmation can support you in moving in this direction?

Another way of looking at this is that you're building your muscles...your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual muscles. One step at a time, one swimming stroke done correctly, maybe one choice not to have $6 mocha frappuccinos every day. 

Habits are built in the small steps. Your choices matter.

I'd love to hear if this post resonates with you in any way. Feel free to share by commenting below. As always, my intention is to support you in living a life and creating a world you love.

p.s. If this topic brings up any issues for you where you'd benefit from support, contact me directly. I offer a 45-minute Free Clarity Session with Prayer, no charge to you. Click here for more info and to schedule. 

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