Practical Steps
Our focus this week — July 9–15: “Goals, Hopes, and Dreams”
Today’s MotD: Practical Steps. We are encouraged to fantasize our hopes and dreams, the bigger the better. Along with that is taking practical steps to turn them into reality. For without taking any practical steps, they remain just as they are: hopes and dreams.
For instance, if we wanted to write a book—a lofty, admirable goal—we will need to take some practical steps to get there. All sorts of fears can overwhelm us, thus keep us from moving forward. However, if we break down the process into smaller, doable, daily tasks it becomes easier to manage and make happen.
So maybe day one we decide: what genre applies to this book ? Day two we could decide how we’re going to write it: with pen and paper or using a word processing app on our computer or maybe we’d rather dictate it onto a device to transcribe later. Day three we could do a general outline of the book (sections or chapters). Day four we could declare what metric to use for how much writing we do each day (1,000 words a day, 2 pages a day, or maybe for 2 hours a day). By day five we’ve already made some major decisions and set up a framework for this book without having written or said a word.
For me, I like to use spreadsheets where the main spreadsheet lists all my current projects and their status. Then I add a spreadsheet for each project. Within those spreadsheets, I list all the steps I think it will take to make it happen. As each task is done, I date it and move onto the next one. This process (for me) helps get the overwhelm out of my head and onto the spreadsheet. I don’t have to worry about forgetting anything because I can always check the sheets to see where I am with each one.
How about you ? What practical steps can you take to make your hopes and dreams a reality ? Are you able to convert the steps into easy, doable daily tasks ? What system helps you to stay on track with your goals ?
BTW…Here’s the before…the front and back view of today’s puzzle piece and the pretty ceramic box that holds all my numbers from which I randomly choose each day’s puzzle piece number:
Peace & Blessings,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
Creating Mandalas 🔆 Awakening Inner Harmony
ABOUT THE 2025 Mandalas of the Day
Throughout the year, I’ll be building one large (48”x48”) Tibetan-styled Mandala one piece at a time…one puzzle piece at a time, that is. The mandala design and the reversed puzzle side were printed on artist-quality watercolor paper. The forward facing puzzle side was printed on a 48”x48” wood panel.
Each day, at random, I’ll be painting in watercolors one of the 365 watercolor puzzle pieces, that by the end of the year will become Archangel Mandala #4. Read more about the Archangel Series. The word/message for each piece will be inspired by Melody Beattie’s book “52 Weeks of Conscious Contact”.
Ultimately, the message of this mandala is about how we are all uniquely part of the one.
Mandala of the Day 