We all know the line, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

I saw another quote today which made me think of that first quote. Here’s the second, “If we want to heal a broken world, we need to get far more intentional about the process. We need to reach down inside ourselves, every one of us, and ask from the depth of our souls: “How can I best serve? How can I best contribute? What needs to be done that I can help make happen?” As those questions become the mantra for our generation, everything broken will begin to repair.”

What does asking questions get? Sometimes answers. Sometimes more questions. Sometimes confusion. Sometimes over-analysis. Sometimes nothing.

While the world does need self-analysis / introspection / whatever, what the world really needs is action.

Everyone is on their own journey, I get it. Here’s the thing, though: everyone is in control of their journey. Ok, then how does change occur? Well, how about by picking your head up every once in a while to see where you are or where you are headed. Don’t like it? Take a step in a different direction! It’s up to you. No one else can do it, regardless of how hard we push you. Once you have set your course, it is not locked in – that’s the beauty of the journey!

Imagine that you are about to walk 1000 yards. Imagine that on the second step, you veer 45* to the right and continue walking. Imagine where you would end up – nowhere near where you thought you would. Change happens by having the courage to take that step. Contemplation is fine, but action is what’s needed most.

I agree with both quotes above – the second, however, just doesn’t go far enough. It’s missing the crucial step of taking an action. Without it we would all be philosophers (no insult to any philosophers out there).

I was speaking with my daughter one day and she told me that she couldn’t change a certain action – I honestly don’t even remember what it was – let’s say it was getting ready for school on time. She couldn’t change the action. I explained to her that all she needed to do was to take the first step, and the circle would be broken. “It’s impossible!” she said. First, you never want to hear your kids say that something is impossible. That’s a cop-out, but an understandable one at a certain age. Who really wants to say, “I’m too lazy to change my habits” or “I don’t see the point in taking a different action”? No one. It takes maturity to decide to change.

I told her part of my life story – I had my first beer in 5th grade. I had been drinking for almost 40 years when I decided that it was time to stop. One day, I took a step 45* from the line of steps that I had taken for almost 40 years. One single step – someone asked me if I wanted a drink, and I said “no”. Simple, right? Not really, but I had made up my mind and I had taken action. Without taking action, nothing happens. (Will I ever drink again? Who knows, but it is nice to know that I am in control of my own journey.)

The part about the second quote that I think is the most valid, is that “we need to reach down inside ourselves, every one of us, and ask from the depth of our souls:” but rather than ask contemplative questions, we need to ask, “What action will I take today to make my dreams come true?”

So let’s combine both thoughts into: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step in a definitive direction.” Maybe it’s the same direction as yesterday, maybe it’s in a 90* angle to yesterday, but the steps need to be taken.