Julie had been unhappy all her life, but with Real Love that condition was changing dramatically. With growth, however, there are always bumps in the road. One day I was describing a next step that Julie might take, and she complained that it was so difficult.
āHave you ever climbed a mountain?ā I asked.
āYes.ā
āWhen your foot is on one step, what do you do with the next one if you want to continue your climb?ā
āI lift it up to the next step.ā
āDo you ever sit down and whine about how the next step is difficult?ā
She smiled as she said, āNo.ā
āWhy not?ā
āIt wouldnāt do any good.ā
āNo, it wouldnāt. Complaining is not a step. In fact, if you complain that the next step is difficult, youāve already MADE it difficult in your own mind. In your gloom, youāll be less enthusiastic in taking the step and less creative in figuring out how to do it.ā
Yes, at times growth really can be difficult. But the only productive approach is simply to take the next stepāor to formulate a plan to take itārather than be distracted by a pessimistic assessment of the problems involved. Some of us even become angry at the stress of the next step. Donāt overthink it. Just take the next step.