This is the fourth part in the series, 5 Steps to Creating a Beautiful Life. Read Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3 now.
Step 4: You only need to see 10 feet ahead
So you want to make a big life change.
But you're thinking: How on earth do I switch from a career in marketing to become a nutritionist? Or, how will I ever find my soulmate if I breakup with Mr. Mediocre? Or, how am I ever going to achieve my dream of living in the French countryside for six months? Or, I have no idea how to build an eco home!
I've got amazing news for you! You don't need to know exactly how you're going to reach any of your dreams or goals.
In fact, it's impossible to know. Because you simply can't predict the people, circumstances and opportunities that will come into your life along the road.
You just need to have your vision in mind, and commit to taking small steps in the general direction of that vision.
There is a philosophical principle which says: Within each step, you will find the next step.
It means that when you take a few little steps forward, then you will see what you need to do next. With each step forward you take, you will learn what needs to happen after that.
Steve Jobs understood this secret. He explained it like this:
You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something -- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.
Exercise: The metaphor of the lamp
Imagine yourself walking along a long road late at night.
It's dark, and you've got a lamp which lights up a few feet of the road out in front of you.
You're trying to reach a beautiful, warm and cosy house filled with friends, good food and laughter at the end of the road.
Does it matter that it's dark and you can't see all the way ahead to the house?
No. All you need to see is a few feet ahead on the road -- once you walk forward, the lamp will light up another few feet in front of you. This will continue all the way to the house.
It's the same with life.
You don't need to know steps 1 through 100 to achieve your dream career, find your soulmate or tap into wealth and abundance.
You just need to know steps 1 through 5. When you complete step 5, you'll probably have figured out steps 6, 7 and 8. When you complete step 8, it's likely that steps 9 and 10 will be clearer.
Continue until you reach step 100.
Elyse is the founder of NotesOnBliss.com, your guidebook to happiness and creating a beautiful life. For more tips, wisdom and inspiration, sign up now.