Have you ever felt so lost that even the next step seemed impossible?

I have.

But I’ve learned that sometimes, the smallest steps can lead to the greatest changes.

“I can't see a way through," said the boy.
"Can you see your next step?"
"Yes."
"Just take that," said the horse.”
— Charlie Mackesy, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

With each step, you move closer.
You don't need to see your destination.
You just need to focus on the next step.

The goals and destination are sometimes so far away they seem intangible.
But the one thing you can control is the next step.

I’ve started two degrees—one in Law and another in Business; but I dropped out of both.
It wasn’t easy to let go, but I realised I was pursuing them to meet expectations that weren’t my own.

It was a hard-won lesson to learn: if you are living for somebody else’s validation, you are not truly living.

It will only get harder.

The ability to choose not only the next step but the journey itself should not be discounted.
I’ve been at the lowest of lows and the highest of highs, from pain and depression to elation and joy. Sometimes, I can't see a way through.

Living with chronic pain often saps one's ability to see joy in the world. Yet, I’ve learned that on the hardest days, even when the path ahead is most unclear, I can still see the next step.

Focus on the Next Step

That next step doesn’t carry the pain of yesterday, nor does it hold the pain of tomorrow.
It carries the promise of something beautiful.

The Unknown

When pain is prevalent in life, the beauty of the unknown—the new—bleeds intense joy into my existence. The unknown holds the possibility of feeling something bigger than just pain and the sameness of yesterday.

It reminds me that each day brings new opportunities, no matter how small, to experience joy or growth in unexpected ways.

The Beauty of Hope

The beauty of the unknown is its ability to inspire hope.

The weight of the past and the guarantees of the future can press down on my optimism.
But the journey is long, and the steps are short. Sometimes that’s enough.

Just Take the Next Step

“Just take this step...
The horizon will look after itself.”
— Charlie Mackesy, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse

What’s your next step on this journey?
Whether it’s reaching out to a friend, trying something new, or simply taking a deep breath.

Remember: small steps can lead to big changes.
Pause, reflect, and take your next step—it could change everything.

@HarryGbc https://x.com/HarryGbc

Ps //: Day 3 of writing on article dot app

Today’s markdown tip is:

Use Chat GPT specifically the new canvas feature to edit the document before pasting into article dot app.

Then ask it for the markdown code, makes it very very easy.