Just GET GOING

Step #2 - One practice that can change your life

Hello, sweet pea 💗

If you read only one message from me, I hope it’s this one.

This simple practice — which I call “Get Going” — has the potential to change your life.

Just three steps.

30 seconds

In fact, it’s so simple that it would be easy to dismiss. Don’t make that mistake.

It’s Step #2 on this ROADTRIP from stuck to happy. And it’s fundamental and important as learning how to walk — providing you with essential skills to navigate your path to happy.

Smart-n-simple

Of course, I’m biased. I’ve been practicing for years and seen its magic.

But it’s not magic.

As I have moved through different phases of my career — writing two New York Times bestsellers, heading up National Geographic, leading Prevention to Mindful.org, and later studying wisdom traditions at an interfaith seminary — I’ve been astonished at how much modern science and ancient wisdom is packed into these three little steps.

It’s all there: neuroscience to quantum physics, Buddhism to the Abrahamic faiths. Offering a portal to mind-expanding consciousness while rooted in brass-tacks, get ‘er done, no time for bull-shit practicality that can save the ass of the most fearful, self-sabotaging, procrastinating secret hider.

Bottomline: it works.

See for yourself. Any day, any time……take 30 seconds and Get Going.

Here’s how:

1. GO IN

Inventory. In the midst of whatever you’re doing, pause for a few seconds and take an inventory of what’s going on inside of you. Do a quick inner scan. What’s on your mind? What are you thinking about? What are you feeling? For example, let’s say, you’re walking to your car in the morning. Opening the car door, sitting down, starting the ignition. Pause for a few seconds and just notice: What’s on your mind? What are you thinking about? Maybe you have a mental To-Do list. Good. Tick, tick, tick, just tick through the list. And how do you feel? Are you in a rush? Are you stressed? Are you worried about something? Or maybe looking forward to something? Whatever comes up is fine….just do an inventory.

2. GO UP

Elevate. Next, see if you can shift your attention upwards — away from the fray of what’s going on inside of you — for a few seconds to see if you can identify something that is important to you. A priority or a goal. Even just a tiny little something that has a bit of meaning. For you, the person sitting in the car. Not the you who is your job, not you-the-mom or you-the-dad. Just you. Is there something that this is important to you? Timeframe doesn’t matter. It could be something you’d like to do, experience, or accomplish today, this week, this month, this year, or simply before you die. Anything at all. And if nothing comes up, that’s fine too. But, over time, with practice, things will come up. Big, small, ridiculous things will come up. Bring whatever it is to the forefront of your mind.

3. GO OUT

Take a tiny action. Hold that something in your mind and figure out what is the tiniest, easiest whisper of an action you can take — a microscopic nano-movement, if need be — in the direction of your something. Anything counts. It is the action, not the size of the action that matters. Take a couple of seconds to identify the teeniest, tiniest, most itty-bitty little thing you could possibly do to move a micro-millimeter in the direction of your something. And do it. Straightaway, if possible. But today. Now. Not tomorrow. Today. Even if it’s as simple as writing down your goal on a piece of paper. Writing is an act of power. Writing turns a thought into an action.

And that’s it. You did it. Three steps. 30 seconds.

Bada-bing! Bada-boom!

Easy, right?

Just start practicing. A couple times a day. No biggy. Literally. Just get going….

Tiny works big

In the midst of my hellscape, I was drowning in a big beautiful house that I’d bought before losing my job and could no longer afford. I knew I needed to sell the house, but I was so overwhelmed. Everywhere was an eyesore that needed to be repaired. But I didn’t have the money to make the repairs….

The enormity made my brain go fuzzy and my body fidgety.

I couldn’t sit at my desk because over my shoulder, just outside the window in the backyard, a dilapidated above-ground pool stood there leering at me with blue plastic lips and a mouthful of frozen slimy green water.

Must sell the house…..

Insect screens flapped like curtains in the windows, our pet goats had nibbled the black rubber edging as if it was licorice. A decaying chicken coop stood back there too. Hawks had scooped up our chickens one by one leaving little piles of feathers that still dotted the grass.

Who would buy such a house!?!

Anxious questions zapped through me like electric shocks. Fear roared back: No one!!! I could barely breathe. Habits, habits, habits: what’s my priority? Safety, stability! What do I need to do? Sell the house!!! What’s the tiniest thing I could do? Talk to a real estate agent but I’m too terrified….How about if I just turn on the computer! But don’t sit down at the desk! I turned on the computer, and instantly turned it off. Done! I ran away! The next day, I Googled “real estate agents” and slammed the computer shut before any names popped up…..

That is how I eventually sold the house.

Crazy, I know.

But it worked.

Itsy bitsy basics

Just Get Going. When you’re starting from fucked stuck, any bit of movement in the right direction matters. Not only because it’s movement, but because it is movement in the direction that you — yes, you, including the terrified you — want to go.

Nano-steps in the direction of your happy is a whole lot better than no nano-steps (aka, stuck).

Over time, you’ll discover that this simple practice creates a powerful clarity and a river of momentum that flows through your life. Pretty soon, you progress from learning how to walk to running like a gazelle following your bliss.

For now, though, the most important thing is developing the itsy bitsy, smart little habits that are baked into the practice so you can:

• survey your inner landscape

• shift your mental gears

• turn your inner priorities into progress

Look, I could sell you this practice till the proverbial cows (or gazelles) come home because it’s worked for me.

But now, it’s your turn. Just get going.

See if it works for you, sweet pea 💗

xxoo

Anne

Ready for more?

Check the roadmap and keep GOING!

Happy at last

Hey. I’m Anne. So glad you are here. Someone called me a “woman of depth” and I think that fits: I love diving in deep, sharing treasure.

• Author of two New York Times bestsellers, Editor of Prevention (twice), Editorial Director of National Geographic, Content Director for Mindful

• Single-mother of three beloveds 💗💗💗 who are now adulting-ish

• Interfaith minister - open, curious, with respect for all

• Traveler - always and everywhere

• AND now podcaster - Sharing the SOUL PRACTICE for daily peace, purpose & power

For a full recap of the journey, see ROADMAP.