My child, sitting in diapers on the kitchen tile in front of the dishwasher, eagerly grabs letters from a bucket of bold, colorful magnets, sticking them one by one to the magnetic front panel.
“See!,” she exclaims, eyes bright with pride, as the bucket empties.
“Good job!” we, as parents, reply enthusiastically, knowing this simple activity is crucial to her development—learning letters.
At first, it’s just a fun game, a gratifying experience of sticking magnetic material to a metallic surface. But as time goes on, this seemingly playful task evolves into something more challenging. We move from sticking letters to understanding that letters form words, words convey ideas, and eventually, these ideas are strung together to communicate meaning.
This process, while natural for most, is far from easy. Yet, it is a journey that we all must take. Learning to read, write, and communicate becomes a necessity—one that makes life significantly easier in the long run.
The Invisible Struggle We All Overcome
None of us vividly recall the struggles of learning these basic skills. We don’t remember the frustration of failing to grasp the alphabet, or the feeling of defeat when we couldn’t form the words we wanted. Yet, despite the challenges, we learned. And because of that, we now enjoy the invaluable ability to communicate effectively.
Imagine how difficult life would be if we hadn’t. We’d be constantly aware of our shortcomings as others with these skills surpass us in knowledge, wisdom, and understanding.
A Personal Journey Through Change
I find myself escaping the congested Bay Area traffic, cruising up 680, a path flanked by rolling golden hills and evergreen oak. With the monotony of the commute, I enhance my drive with enriching audiobooks, documentaries, and lectures that align with my Life Unifying Purpose.
As I hum along with the flow of traffic, a name unexpectedly flashes on my dashboard screen. It’s a phone call, something unusual from this person who typically texts. I answer immediately.
“I need help.”
I listen closely, mentally drawing upon the Left Coast Caveman modalities we teach, ready to offer the Cave perspective.
“I don’t know. That sounds good, but…I can’t handle more ‘homework.’ It’s going to be difficult to…”
Ah, the typical response when someone is faced with the reality of meaningful change. The individual acknowledges the problem but continues to talk about it, inadvertently fueling their ailments rather than combatting them with a simple, actionable game plan.
Embracing Change Through Simple, Micro Steps
The truth is, change is never easy—especially when it involves something worthwhile. Whether it’s learning a new language, acquiring a critical skill, or striving to become Supreme, the journey is inherently challenging. But here’s the secret: every difficult, long-term goal is made up of simple, accessible micro steps.
~ CAVE IMPLEMENTATION ~
At Left Coast Caveman, we emphasize that achieving Apex Actualization begins with a single step. Acknowledge that while the end goal may seem daunting, the path to it consists of small, manageable actions.
Start by shifting your mindset. Say, “I can,” and take immediate action—no matter where you are on your journey. Download the Cave Daily Log and commit to scheduling time on the Cave Daily Planner (below).
Instead of dwelling on your problems, focusing on past failures, or engaging in activities that detract from your Life Unifying Purpose, replace those behaviors with ones that positively impact your life.
Use the Garbage In, Garbage Out modality to reorient your actions and mindset. And remember, if you’re reading this, you’ve already mastered the difficult task of learning to read—a skill that now seems effortless but required perseverance. You’ve conquered that challenge, and you’re better off for it.
The journey to becoming Supreme follows the same principle. Start where you are. Start now. With each simple step, your fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being will improve. And before long, you’ll thank yourself for taking action today.
By understanding that change is a gradual process, rooted in small, intentional actions, you can transform your life. Join us at Left Coast Caveman as we continue the journey to becoming Supreme—one step at a time.
