You Should Not Fear This

• 💡 Wisdom

• ✏️ Illustration

• 💬 Saying

• 🧭 Explanation

• 📝 Reflection

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 21 seconds

Do not fear regression.

Taking a step back may be the thing that allows you to leap forwards.

Step backwards to fly forwards.

Here is today’s Wisdom Made Easy visual:

Just like in this visual, stepping backwards can help you achieve new things, proving that you are adaptable.

This newsletter’s saying comes courtesy of American author Kurt Vonnegut:

Despite not agreeing with all of Vonnegut’s views, I appreciate the simplicity of this quote.

We often see taking a step backwards as a step in the wrong direction.

But it is important that we recognise the humility required to admit you were wrong, and step backwards.

After all, who cares how many steps you’ve taken if they’ve all been in the wrong direction?

I’d rather take a single step in the right direction than a thousand in the wrong one.

Today’s particular concept is extremely close to my heart.

For many in the United Kingdom, it is considered the traditional path to get a degree, and it was the path that many of my peers had achieved by my mid-twenties.

Because of this, I believed that I needed a degree, so I started studying something that interested me: photography.

Despite enjoying what I had learned, it became apparent early on in my studies that I wasn’t destined to become a photographer.

So after achieving my Certificate of Higher Education (a third of the way towards a degree), I withdrew from my studies.

At first, I considered the years wasted. It felt like I had made a backwards step in life.

But what started as a dark moment in my life, proved to be incredibly valuable as it gave me the opportunity to:

• Gain perspective - by stepping back from this commitment, I could assess my life with greater clarity, and plan for the future

• Take aim - after stepping backwards, I found myself with the time to precisely aim at the direction that I wanted to pursue next

• Get momentum - Once I’d gained perspective about what I wanted to do, I managed to propel myself towards that purposeful job

If it weren’t for stepping back, I wouldn’t have found myself working for the same fulfilling employer that I still work for today.

Have you been putting off taking a step backwards?

Perhaps you are fearful of what people would say if you did.

Spend some time completing today’s reflection to understand how today’s principle of wisdom fits into your life.

Consider journaling your responses to the following questions:

• To what extent do I agree or disagree with the value of stepping back?

• Can I describe a time in my life when stepping backward has helped me achieve a goal?

• Is there something that I need to take a step backwards from?

Want to journal? Join Journal Wiser today!

Today’s resource is another Wisdom Made Easy creation, but instead of a visual, it’s a YouTube video.

10 months ago, I shared 5 Frameworks for Failure - a video speaking about how you can have a better relationship with things that you consider to be failure.

Given that many of us consider steps backwards as failure, it felt appropriate to reshare that video with you all.

If you have any feedback on the WISER Newsletter, I would love to hear it! Simply reply to this email, and I will get back to you. Alternatively, just DM me on social media.

You can find my social links and learn how to work with me here.

Catch you in the next issue!

Thanks,
Michael