Whatever steps, however small, one can take towards learning to reduce the influence of the negative emotions can be very helpful. – Dalai Lama
One step. And then another. Not large by themselves, but together, the amount first to yards, then miles.
What does that mean?
I like this quote. This quote says that even small steps help. I believe that is a great attitude to have. This quote reminds us that it’s OK to just make small steps, to make small changes. So long as you are making progress, no matter how small, you are doing well.
This quote is specifically about trying to reduce the negative emotions, and their influence over you. The implication is that even a little bit of negative emotion is bad for you. I would have to agree with that, as I feel life is short enough that we don’t need to fill it with any more negative emotions, if we can avoid it.
To me, that’s the whole point of the quote, trying our best to avoid allowing them to get the better of us. Even if the steps are small, the more we can move away from their influence, the happier our lives will be. And isn’t that the whole point of living?
Why are even the small changes important?
So many people I know don’t want to just make small changes, they want to make a big one, but give up if they don’t get massive results. I understand the frustration. I tried sculpture in wax for a while. I was always breaking things because I wanted big chunks to come off.
I was the same way with wood carving, constantly breaking things because I was trying to take away too much at any one time. Some of it is skill (or the complete lack thereof), and some of it is patience (or, again, the lack thereof).
The point of the quote is that any change that helps reduce the ability of the negative emotions to influence, no matter how small, is a good thing. Each small change changes your trajectory, changes your path from that point forward. These changes are all significant, no matter how small.
Where can I apply this in my life?
Small changes add up. While it might not sound big, saving a few dollars each day will amount to quite a sum by the end of the year. Put it in the bank, and earn some interest on top of that! In a decade or two, you’ll have a tidy sum.
Have you ever put change in a container, until it was full, and then counted it? While you won’t have enough to buy a new car, it might be enough for a nice dinner or a small trinket for a friend or your favorite cousin or niece/nephew.
Similarly, small changes help. I’ve found myself gaining weight again lately. I have started eating a bit healthier, substituting fruit for the afternoon candy bar, and trying to cut back on the number of sodas each day, and drinking more water instead.
I don’t expect to immediately lose weight. I’m just trying to slow down the gain, then stop it. Eventually, it will come back down, if I can cut down on the calories going in, and boost the calories going out. I hope to start a morning walk/jog program in the next week or two to help increase the calories going out.
These are small changes. But if you can get to the point where you lose just a single pound each week, by the end of one year, you will have lost a whole 50 pounds. Small changes can add up to a lot, if you can keep them going.
But what about the negative emotions, and their influence? What I have found works best for me is to believe in myself. Negative emotional influences from outside myself have much less impact if I believe in myself, and my self-esteem. How much belief do you have in yourself, and would that help you better weather the storms of negative emotions from the outside?
What about those which arise from within? For me, the same thing works fairly well. When I get mad, or come under the influence of some other negative emotion, I can remind myself that this emotion is not who I am, that I am better than that. It doesn’t often cure me of the emotion immediately, but it can be soothing.
I also find meditation to be helpful in finding my calm center. The more often I meditate, the easier it seems to be to find the calm place within any storm. Again, it’s another small change. I can’t yet just ‘flip a switch’ and be calm, but I can get calmer more quickly using this technique.
What works for you? Consider what, in the past, has worked for you. Grab some paper and write these things down. Is there any pattern? That might give you a clue what to work on in the future. Even if you can’t find a pattern, you should be able to pick one to try to improve, even just a little.
Keep track of how much change you are getting, and consider what other things you might be able to do to help. The whole point is to take small steps in the correct direction, and then repeat the process. Sometimes you don’t know if something will help. Try it, and then look at the results.
As Lao Tzu said, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Start taking steps. One small step at a time.
From: Twitter, @DalaiLama
confirmed at : it’s his own feed…
Photo by audi_insperation
