The Right Direction

Karen McCall in her book, Financial Recovery writes, “Going slowly in the right direction is enormously better than going in the wrong direction at any speed.”  While McCall is speaking specifically about debt reduction and financial health, the sentiment can be applied to any area of life we are working on.  Often when we begin a personal growth project we want to better or perfect immediately.  Whatever the project may be (i.e. anger management, sobriety, improved communication, healthy relationship with money, etc.) if we are working on it, that is being aware and intentional about change in a specific area and taking action, then we are going in the right direction.  Our “bad habits” and self defeating behaviors did not develop overnight and it is unrealistic to think that in simply being aware of them that they will vaporize.  It takes work.  But the work is of an empowering nature because it begs the question, “How can I meet my needs in a healthy way?”  The old “bad habits” are generally speaking just maladaptive efforts to meet basic emotional needs.  Real change, meaning change at a paradigm level happens when we look at our needs directly, acknowledge them, and take action meet them in conscious, healthy, and intentional way.