I have always worked toward a goal. Whether that goal was something small or something big, my focus was always on getting closer to achieving it. II was always an achiever, a perfectionist, and the idea of slowing down never came to mind. Whenever I had a tough time in reaching the goal, wise people would tell me to take a step back and think it through. But did I listen? Absolutely not. As a perfectionist, I thought their advice only worked toward the people who have “made it” and was not for me who has to work my life to get in their position. I thought they had the luxury of sipping tea while telling me to slow down. I had no time to spare, I could not have been seen letting my foot go backwards. Therefore, I kept on reaching, reaching and reaching until I slipped all the way down to the bottom of the stair. There is what I learned, to take a step back.
Taking a step back is harder than it seems. Sometimes, taking a step back means to let go of all the things that you have built and earned—your achievements, your progress—to recognize your own self. No one wants to put down what they have put in their souls. Who would want to? But I learned that to reach the top of the stairs we need to learn to gently let go of our precious things, if only for a moment, so we can regain our balance and perspective. Sometimes, all the work and the achievement blocks us from seeing the ultimate goal. We need to sometimes drop everything and have a time of reflection and start building a steadier base. Just like creating a grocery list helps us avoid unneeded items in the supermarket.
Taking a step back helps us get a better perspective. We keep on grinding and climbing, convincing ourselves that if we just push a little harder, we’ll get there. But sometimes, to climb higher, you need to pause and adjust your grip. Stepping down helps us to see the fuller picture with helping us reframe our values and priorities.
Most people think that taking a step back means showing weakness. When we see people stepping back, we think, “I knew that he or she lacks consistency.” We believe they are not determined to achieve this goal. We’re told that the only way forward is through keep going. But in reality, there is wisdom in knowing when to step back, breathe, and reflect.
It is okay to take a step back down. It is more than okay to take a step back down. It is time for us to rebuild, reflect and rediscover who we are and what truly matters. I truly believe that people who take a step back can stand right back up after an obstacle. They can reach for the achievement. Without that pause, we risk slipping through the challenges and find ourselves having to climb the stairs all over again.
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