Small Steps vs Giant Leaps

I’ve come to believe that life is a great big sandbox that we get to play in and create things like experiences or paintings or albums or children or jobs. I’ve also always felt that I could do anything I set my mind to, as well. Actually, I believe anyone can do anything they set their mind to, and I don’t exclude myself from “anyone”. Sometimes my mind comes up with big ideas that get me excited and often overwhelmed when I start to put things in action towards the envisioned Big Idea. Things are not as easy as they seem. If they were, everyone would be doing it, right?

I’m coming to learn that going after the Big Idea right out the gate is a recipe for disappointment, because my vision and aspirations always exceeded my capacity in terms of time, knowledge and/or resources.

Making my first record was a hyyyooooooge learning process for me. I feel like I’m so much better prepared for doing it again, now that I’ve gone through it and I’m looking forward to writing more new material and eventually recording it. Songs are still coming, which feels great.

Now, as I turn my attention putting the record out into the world, I’m coming up to what seems like another huge chasm – the promotion of a record. I’ve never been in the music business so I have no idea how it’s done. And to be fair to myself, the rules and winning strategies are changing all the time. Over the last few months, I’ve been contemplating a North America house concert tour, driving from Nashville to LA, up to Vancouver, across Canada to Chicago, then back to Nashville, and then a big East Coast loop.

But lining up house concerts in all 30 cities has felt a little overwhelming, since I don’t really know people in a lot of those places.

One of the big messages I’ve been getting back from the Universe is to take small steps. Taking “THAT” step doesn’t necessarily mean taking the giant leap. It does mean pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone, leaning into places that feel risky and scary. It’s only when we lean in like past the point of no return that the Universe answers with solid ground.

No one said your first (or any) steps have to be death-defying giant leaps of faith. They can be baby-steps, too. Just take them.