Wobbly
/I told a client to “baby step it” yesterday and I was referring to taking tiny steps toward a big life change they are considering. But the more I thought about baby steps, the more I realized true baby steps are not small cautious moves. They are courageous, bold, wobbly, unbalanced moves. Those moves result in falling again and again, but it’s all progress toward the desire to move in a new way.
When watching a baby take their first steps, the wobbly part is the stuff we adore.
We were all once a bold baby who took wobbly steps. We fell again and again, but we were determined to get back up and try it again until we could master walking. Then later we tried to ride a bike because we wanted a greater sense of freedom. We fell over, skinned our knees, but kept going. So, at what age did we become uncomfortable with being wobbly and new at something?
When was the last time you were wobbly?
Maybe we should all pledge to do something new this week and embrace the wobbly first moments. Buy some art supplies and be wobbly. Gather some ingredients and wobble through a new recipe. Tryout for the team, audition for the role, wobble through the application process. Start a conversation to say the thing you need to say and keep going when it gets wobbly. Take a risk at work and admit that you are experimenting with something new and it might be wobbly at first.
To take this baby step metaphor further…
Wobbling builds strength - shaky legs are signs that you are building muscle, improving balance, and gaining new strength - we don’t get stronger or become better at something if we never begin
Wobbling means you are moving - staying in one place might feel easy, but it gets boring - there is a big world to explore and taste, we miss out on the fullness of being human if we don’t move around
Wobbling is universal - no baby takes a step without wobbling - we all wobble at first with anything we begin, just expect this as part of the human experience - you aren’t a failure, you are human
Allow yourself to be awkward, wobbly, unsure, shaky, and unsteady at first to get you where you want to go. We are never graceful with out first steps. But we won’t ever get to graceful if we aren’t willing to first be awkward.
If you are wanting to try something new, may you find the courage to take a wobbly first step.
If you feel like you keep falling down, may you remember that you are building strength and about to be surprised by what you can do.
If you are wobbly and impatient with skill building, may you find people who can support you to hone your skills and help you achieve your goal.
If you fall hard, may you have compassion for yourself and tender encouragement to try again.
If a voice of doubt says you should quit, may your brave soul and inner voice of self-worth be louder.
When you were a toddler, you set your eyes on a toy across the room and tapped into your inner determination to get there. So what is it that you want today?
Be brave enough to wobble this week.
Wobbling with you,
