A Key Ingredient

I am no chef, but I love to experiment in the kitchen. I heard a cooking metaphor from a former therapist that stuck with me. In life, when making changes to our routine, add one ingredient at a time. Choosing to narrow our focus can enhance our results. We see what works and to what degree.

I need a makeover. I may be God’s masterpiece, but I still see room for growth and transformation. For example…have you heard this joke before?

What do you call someone who speaks two languages? Bilingual.

What do you call someone who speaks three languages? Trilingual.

What do you call someone who speaks one language? American.

I’m an American. I speak English. I wish I were also fluent in Amharic, Arabic, Hebrew, Spanish, or French. Fluency, itself, may be a myth. Are we overselling ourselves? Can we really learn all there is to know about a language? French theorist, Roland Barthes, argued we’re all slaves and masters of language. We obey rules and yet exhibit freedom. We co-create realities through words. Instead of studying several Semitic languages or ruminating on a list of Romance languages all at once, I should probably limit myself to one new language at a time to maximize the benefit from the educational experience. I have potential, but I’m overwhelmed, because I try to do too much at once. Lasting progress is slow and steady.

What are areas where you see room for improvement in your life? Would you like to lose weight? gain strength? increase income? add a language? What matters most to you?

My advice is to not have too many pots boiling at one time. Slow down. Take your time and enjoy the process. Adding one ingredient at a time is wisdom in a fast-paced world. If you notice the difference even one ingredient can make, you can perfect the flavor and tailor-make your recipe. You don’t have to have all the answers at once. A little goes a long way.

A little spice…

See what effect it has. No pressure for immediate perfection. Just taste the difference each additional step makes.

Consider making lifestyle changes. Wake up earlier. Exercise more regularly. Invest in high-quality reading material that interrogates a subject. We all have twenty-four hours in a day. How you devote your time makes all the difference. So, avoid distractions. Meditate along the way. It’s easier to manage incremental change than it is to face an avalanche of disruption. Don’t overexert yourself or exhaust your options. Just be patient and keep a steady pace toward your goals—one stepping stone at a time.

Don’t force a conclusion. Invite an experience. You are more than enough. Remember to flow. Don't swim upstream. It’s less effort and more impactful to go in the direction of the current. In “oceans of possibilities,” you’ll find your peace. I wish you ease.

From my heart to yours,

Yeru