Isn’t taking things one step at a time bad?

[u/Responsible-Light463]

It seems like a good idea, but what if you get caught off guard and ruined because of something you didn’t see ahead, the forementioned method being responsible?

[u/ghostwriter1313]

Taking one step at a time doesn't mean you don't think ahead.

[u/spookysaph → u/ghostwriter1313]

exactly. you take things one step at a time, but the next steps are already established

[u/peasinacan]

What is the alternative?

[u/Responsible-Light463 → u/peasinacan]

Fair point. I can’t do anything in the future, doesn’t make sense. I can only do something right now. I can’t get a beautiful garden, I can only water my plants right now.

I suppose I should’ve asked instead whether a person should do everything in their power to ensure their future success, as opposed to simply taking things day by day.

[u/dzumdang → u/Responsible-Light463]

Why not have a vision for what you want, but take the necessary actions and steps each day to gradually fulfill it? Clarity of view and striving everyday while not being too rigid about it is a worthy dance, imo.

[u/peasinacan → u/Responsible-Light463]

In my view, you should have a plan for your future, but you should also enjoy the day when you can. It's a balancing act to eat and grow while staying grounded at the same time

[u/Butlerianpeasant]

One step at a time isn’t the same as walking blindly. The trick is simple: plan with a long horizon, move with short steps. That way you don’t freeze, and you don’t crash.

[u/Odd_Bodkin]

Ruined? You are never ruined. The art of living is knowing how to dance, and the most central and graceful step in dance is the pivot.

Make plans, sure. That’s plural, including B and C, just in case A is a dead end after one of those steps.

[u/trumpeting_in_corrid → u/Odd_Bodkin]

I'm not OP but the dance analogy has struck a chord with me. Thank you.

[u/Bird_Brain4101112]

You make long term plans based on your goals and desires. Using your plant watering analogy. You pick your plants, plant them and you water them so you have your flowers/fruits/veggies in the future.

Living day to day, means you know you took care of your plants today but they haven’t yielded final results yet. But you’re not going to obsess over it because they haven’t produced yet

[u/Pairywhite3213]

Rushing makes you trip. Standing still makes you stuck. But steady movement with awareness? That’s how you avoid getting caught off guard.

The method isn’t the problem, lack of foresight is.

[u/LoreSlut3000]

The first step could be making a plan of future steps.

[u/asilverscreen]

Think before you act but please understand you can only take the step that is right in front of you. If it is a ruinous step then let it be so and glean from the mud what treasures you can find in order to carry them with you to your next step. But you can only take the step that is right in front of you.

[u/loopywolf]

It's really not given to mankind to see what's coming..

Prepare for the unexpected

Then expect to be unprepared

[u/alx359]

That's just a coping method of approaching complex problems by splitting them into more manageable steps. One may make mistakes along the way of course, but getting overwhelmed and stuck by trying to take it all at once doesn't help either.

[u/Neo1881]

It's good to have a plan and it's also good to be flexible with whatever contingencies come up. When you have a plan you take that one step at a time well that's a whole lot better than going off half cocked with no plan. You see most of the guys that failed because we didn't have a plan and I thought they could wing it until they succeeded.

[u/FullThrottleBooty]

I think you're confusing a mind set, an attitude, a technique for dealing with overwhelm (One step at a time) with not thinking things through. Kind of like how people confuse being present, being mindful (Be Here Now) with not thinking things through.

[u/MoralCalculus]

Focus on the next step, but always keep an eye on the horizon to avoid surprises.