Finding Balance: Making Big Changes Through Small Steps in a Complex Life

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Juggling multiple roles can make life complex. As a mum to children who are growing fast and navigating the increasing demands of school with dyslexic challenges, along with their expanding social landscapes and issues, this alone can be time-consuming. On top of this, I’m managing household responsibilities, negotiating a new childcare contract, and balancing my own self-care while nurturing relationships. Adding to the complexity is my pursuit of a new purpose.

I’m about to embark on research for a book on re-imagining healthcare and will be working on a future project about education. I’ll be curating stories and experiences of those offering alternatives to government systems, looking for commonalities and inspiration for how we might address healthcare and education in the future. Balancing this with my existing responsibilities feels overwhelming, especially when immediate concerns demand my full attention.

Right on cue, I listened to a powerful conversation between Tami Simon and Otto Scharmer, addressing both personal empowerment and urgent societal changes. Their podcast, What Future Is Wanting to Emerge Through You? posed a profound question: “How do we move from just reacting against the issues of the past, toward sensing and actualising the future that is wanting to emerge?”

In my world, this question translates to: “How can I contribute to evolving the world while managing all my current responsibilities?” Tami Simon, founder and CEO of Sounds True—one of my favorite publishing houses—and Dr. Otto Scharmer, a senior lecturer at MIT renowned for his Theory U framework, provided insights that made listening to their discussion a must. Theory U guides individuals and organisations in moving from existing patterns to emerging future possibilities.

I’ll admit, I’m not much of an academic, and I often find theoretical discussions full of jargon challenging. However, Dr. Scharmer’s work on leadership, big-picture change, and tapping into emerging possibilities was so relevant that I paid close attention.

In their conversation, they discussed key ideas including:

• Common feelings of depression and disillusionment today
• Moving from a fear-based outlook to one of hope
• Bridging gaps in environment, society, and spirituality
• Shifting from focusing on individual benefits to understanding broader impacts
• How small actions can lead to big changes
• Being open to new possibilities
• Letting go of what no longer serves us
• Embracing uncertainty
• The concept of Social Presencing
• The role of courage in change
• How unlocking our potential is more achievable than we think

They also emphasized creating spaces that encourage positive change, focusing our efforts, the role of relationships, and the importance of deep listening and awakening the human spirit.

These ideas offered a helpful perspective on how to navigate the complexity of my life:

1. Balancing Immediate Needs with Long-Term Goals: I’m dealing with pressing issues like renegotiating contracts through mediation alongside daily responsibilities. Dr. Scharmer’s approach emphasises the importance of not just focusing on these immediate concerns but also nurturing my long-term goals, such as my book projects. It’s about finding a way to manage both aspects effectively.
2. Creating Space for Emergence: Moments of reflection, like my beach walks, where I let my creative thoughts flow, align with Dr Scharmer’s idea of creating "holding spaces." These are environments where new ideas can emerge despite the chaos of daily life. It’s about making room for these moments of inspiration.
3. Integration of Everyday and Creative Processes: Dr. Scharmer’s approach involves blending daily tasks with creative pursuits. Finding ways to weave my book ideas into my busy schedule, even if it’s through small, incremental steps, is key to making some progress. I felt better when he said "Big changes through small steps."
4. Reflection and Patience: Dr Scharmer highlights the importance of patience and reflection. While immediate concerns may dominate my time, the insights gained from reflective moments are crucial. This process involves trusting that creative ideas will continue to develop, even if progress feels slow.

My biggest take away was that small, intentional actions can lead to big changes over time. Dr. Scharmer emphasizes that transformative work doesn’t always (and, in fact, most often doesn’t) require grand gestures.

Instead, by focusing on small, meaningful actions, we can make significant progress over time, aligning our daily efforts with our long-term goals. For those of us navigating complex lives, these principles can be transformative:

• Set Small Goals: Dedicate short, focused periods to work on our long-term goals.
• Create Reflective Spaces: Find or create environments where we can reflect and let new ideas emerge.
• Balance and Integration: Incorporate our goals into our daily routine in manageable ways.
• Trust the Process: Be patient and flexible, allowing our plans to adapt as we gain new insights.

As you reflect on your own aspirations and responsibilities, consider how these practical steps might fit into your life. By applying these principles, you can manage your day-to-day challenges while steadily advancing toward your larger goals, creating a harmonious balance between current needs and future possibilities.

If you enjoyed reading this, you may enjoy Learning the Fundamentals of More Healthy and Balanced Relationships, The Art of Learning to Have and Hold Boundaries Healthily When Healing From Trauma Responses, Navigating Life's Balancing Act Authentically with Pink and Intuition, Finding Your Balance and From Endings to Beginnings: Let Go to Embrace New Possibilities. To be the first to receive these posts, you can also opt to subscribe to my blog.