Take One Small Step
Why the small steps carry the biggest momentum
Hi team, Tara here 💛
Let’s talk about the quiet kind of progress—the kind that isn’t flashy or fast, but steady and slow.
You don’t need to have the whole path planned out.
You don’t need a perfect five-year plan.
You just need a general direction.
And the courage to take one small step. Then another. And another…
In a world that glorifies overnight success, it’s easy to forget: small steps are powerful. They compound. They build trust. They shape habits. They create momentum.
EmpowerFlow started as a Google Doc. No strategy. No logo. No subscribers. Just a quiet commitment to show up each week and write about something I cared about and wanted to share with others.
One newsletter. Then another. And another…
The same was true when I was reaching burnout. There was no grand recovery plan. No big gesture.
Just a five-minute walk around my San Francisco block. Buying apples and peanut butter so I had something nourishing nearby. Moving my phone charger out of the bedroom. Saying no to one thing that would’ve put me past my capacity.
No specific action magically fixed everything. But one led to another. And another…
Each step became a message to myself: I’m listening to you. I believe in you..
And that’s how self-trust grows—one small, consistent step at a time.
Why Small Steps Actually Work
They bypass overwhelm.
When the goal feels too big, we often get paralyzed. We freeze not knowing how to do it all. But, we don’t need to have each step mapped out. One tiny step forward breaks inertia.
They shift your identity.
Each small step reinforces the belief: I’m someone who shows up for what matters. I’m someone who shows up for myself.
They build momentum.
You don’t need unbounded motivation to start—you just need motion. Action generates energy. And energy fuels more natural, sustainable action.
They create space for evolution.
Small steps keep you flexible. They let your direction evolve as you grow. You don’t need to get it right on the first try—or the third. You just need to keep stepping forward and adjusting your heading as you go.
Your Next Step
What’s something you’ve been putting off because it feels too big, intimidating or abstract?
A career shift you’ve been thinking about?
A creative project that feels too personal or “out there”?
A move to a new city?
A desire to slow down and prioritize your well-being, even if it doesn’t serve a specific goal?
Now ask yourself:
Why haven’t I taken a first step?
Is something truly in the way? Or am I waiting for the perfect time or permission? What story am I telling myself that’s keeping me stuck? What self-limiting beliefs do I hold?
Then ask:
What’s the smallest next step I could take?
Send one email. Make one phone call. Block off one hour. Say the idea out loud. Do a Google search. Take a walk.
This week I want you to take that small step. In fact, I challenge you to take that first step today.
Don’t wait for clarity—clarity often follows action, not the other way around. I’m cheering you on.
With heart,
Tara
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