One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way

the-sea vacation. But the real secret is to turn toward each other in little ways every day.”
—John Gottman
Focusing on small moments is both easy and hard to do. I am reminded how easy it is when I watch
children play and learn. They are absolutely focused in the moment, so able to take pleasure and be
absorbed in their activities and their friends. As their brains develop, two other capacities come on
board. One is the ability to recall the past, and the other is the ability to anticipate the future. These were
crucial additions to our survival tool kit as a species. The ability to remember in which direction our
enemies were seen and anticipate what problems could be encountered with them was crucial. But these
two new skills usually mean we all spend a bit too much time dwelling in the past and worrying about the
future. Through kaizen, we can regain more of that precious quality of childhood: the ability to take
pleasure in the moment, to become fascinated with those around us and whatever we are doing.
Kaizen Tip
Most of us spend so much time dwelling on the past or anticipating the future that we miss small moments. Whenever you find yourself
lost in worry or regret, try this:
1. Ask yourself: 
Do I need to learn to change anything based on this worry or regret of mine?
2. If the answer is yes, then take a step toward that change. If the answer is no (and often it is), scan the room for an object or
person that gives you the strongest sense of pleasure. Focus your thoughts on this item for thirty seconds. This process trains your
brain to live in the moment.

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CHAPTER EIGHT
Kaizen for Life
As you experience success in applying kaizen to clear goals like weight loss or career advancement,