How To Eat Your Elephant: Baby Steps For Success

“How do you eat an elephant?

Often we face elephants or big problems that seem over whelming. But problems are less intimidating if we break them down into small goals. Don’t try and do it all at once, try one bite at a time to accomplish your goals..

What’s Your Elephant?

We all face challenges that seem over powering. Whether it is unexpected death, career disappointment, or chronic illness we can find ourselves facing an elephant that needs to be eaten in small sections.

While striving for sobriety addicts are told, “Don’t try and be clean for the rest of your life, just take one day at a time.”

One hill at a time and one day at time all are ways conceptualize breaking a difficult task down into small achievable goals.

The Principle of Incremental Progress

I had a chance to apply this principle during a ski trip with my husband. We were skiing the Schilthorn in Switzerland. (The Schilthron run is shown in a James Bond movie and start for the world longes down hill ski race called the “Inferno.”)

Confidently, I took the cable car to the top of mountain. After debarking I glance down at the steepest slope I had ever seen in my life.

My first impulse was to give up. But my husband kindly said,

“Don’t look at the whole hill at once. Do you see that tree over there about 25 feet away? Can you ski to that? I nodded, “Yes, I could.” He skied with me to the tree. “Now can you ski to the small knoll and then to the large pine?” And so it went until much to my surprise, I skied the whole hill.

Queen Elizabeth II said, “It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.”

Does losing 20 lbs seem overwhelming to you? Break down the task.

1. Plan meals

2. Shop for food

3. Begin eating according to plan

4. Gradually add exercise

Here is an interesting interview with famous quarterback, Steve Young where he talks about his struggle with anxiety. If you skip to 6.50 minutes on the counter Young says, “You get through it one day at a time…” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc3n8pcOqXk

A client wanted to get his college degree but felt overwhelmed by the requirements for his major. But he took it one assignment at a time, one test at a time and gradually earned his degree. The client is now in the career of his choice.

Another client wanted to get over her social anxiety. Every day she set goals to stretch herself socially even when it was uncomfortable. Over several months she was able to increase her social circle and leave her home for more activities.

It’s hard by the yard but it is a cinch by the inch because our brains are hard wired to work through small successes at a time.

Monica Mehta says,

“….with each small success, our brain releases a chemical called dopamine. When dopamine flows into the brain’s reward pathway (the part responsible for pleasure, learning and motivation), we not only feel greater concentration but are inspired to re-experience the activity that caused the chemical release in the first place.

With each success we gain an increase in dopamine boosting self-confidence.

Don’t let the elephant sit down and squish the life out of you. Take control, one bite at a time. In the 1991 black comedy, What About Bob?, Bill Murray teaches his therapist it is baby steps for success. No one really has elephant on the menu but it is a good metaphor for not biting off more than you can chew.