Many years ago, we saw a movie “What About Bob” starring Bill Murray. The phrase I remember most was “Baby steps.”
I thought of this intro while digesting this amazing conversation on Tim Ferriss’ podcast, The Most Incredible Transformation I’ve Ever Seen — Jerzy Gregorek on Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Coaching, and the Power of Micro-Progressions (#865). This conversation ranks as one of the most important I’ve ever heard. Gregorek, former four-time World’s Strongest Man, talks of guiding a young man with both Autism and Cerebral Palsy into a better life beginning with resistance training and then adding math and poetry.
The key? Gregorek didn’t treat the physical disability with rehab work. He used micro-progressive strength training. Sort of like “baby steps” leading to the ability to bench press 135 lbs. after beginning at 3 lbs.
Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed the many success stories people post on his Pump Club app. He observed why he thinks the Pump Club has been so successful. “I think it is this idea that you need to see the little steps along the way to keep yourself going. Normally people see fitness as before and after. We do it differently and celebrate every step.”
I began thinking about a metaphor for spiritual development building upon this idea. I’ll pick up my intentional music practice. The goal for this practice includes mental development, finger dexterity, and enjoyment. (Maybe I’ll add a fourth career as a busker, who knows 😉
- Following a hiatus of moving and just staring at my 50-year-old guitar, I decided to begin again.
- Purchase a new, sufficiently good instrument
- Begin with scales to extend fingers due to my dupuytren’s (thanks to Irish and Welsh ancestry)
- Begin work on chords and chord changes
- Intentional practice, chord progressions in successive keys
- Intentional practice—variety of finger-picking rhythms
- Add voice—discovered I’m singing in different keys than before
It’s all a micro-progression.
Let’s consider spiritual formation or growth (or whatever you wish to call it).
- Set aside quiet time at least once daily.
- Read something uplifting—could be stories of Jesus from the New Testament or spiritual classics.
- Begin with maybe 5 minutes. See if you can progress to 15 and then 30 minutes. Maybe then twice a day.
- Walk outside in nature daily as much as you’re physically able.
- Meet with 2-3 fellow seekers for coffee or soda regularly.
- Find a service—bake cookies for a shelter’s dinner, knit blankets for homeless shelters, mow someone’s grass, there must be things within your skill set and constraints.
- Find a place of worship that fits your personality.
- Learn to listen—to God and to others.
Remember—baby steps. Don’t plunge in to everything trying to save the world. Take a step. Strengthen a muscle. Move to the next. You have a whole life to gradually develop the spiritual muscle leading to a life that includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
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