One Step at a Time
Journeying through life
by Philippa Rae
Suitable for Whole School (Sec)
Aims
To encourage us to consider the processes that are required to achieve our goals.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (One Step at a Time) and the means to display them.
Assembly
- Show Slide 1.
Welcome the students. - Explain to the students that sometimes, we want to do something, but we can’t quite think where to start. This applies to anything from a potential hobby or school project to a goal for later life.
- Show Slide 2.
Ask the students, ‘How often have you heard the phrase “taking one step at a time”?’
Point out that when we are considering goals, a useful approach can be to identify our goal and then break it down into the steps that are required to achieve it. This is a way of organizing our thoughts in a logical order. For example, if our goal is to become a doctor, we must look at what subjects we need to study at GCSE, A level and so on. - Show Slide 3.
Likewise, if we need to create a school project, we might have access to so much information that we feel overwhelmed. Creating a mind map by listing any research or thoughts that spring to mind can help to shape the direction that we choose. - Show Slide 4.
Explain that this is where the saying ‘more haste, less speed’ might apply. By taking time to consider the order in which we take our steps, we can formulate a plan and end up saving time in the long run. - Show Slide 5.
Sometimes, we may not have a specific goal. It can be hard to know which direction to take, especially if we haven’t found anything that inspires us.
In this scenario, it can be helpful simply to try something. It could turn out that the path is not for us, but along the way, we may develop insights into another direction that we would like to take. Trying something may also help us to identify our strengths, weaknesses, skills and talents, and learn where we may be better suited. - Show Slide 6.
Often, despite our best efforts to formulate a plan, the route to our goals is not straightforward. Like this road in Otago, New Zealand, our journey will have setbacks, delays, detours and sideways moves.
The benefit of taking one step at a time is that we are encouraged to keep going as each step is completed. Also, when we have a setback, we can evaluate whether we need to change direction. - We can apply the philosophy of taking one step at a time to our personal growth too. For example, we could look to improve in areas such as thinking before we speak, taking more exercise, being on time, keeping our temper in check or not using bad language.
We can all take the first step to changing our behaviour to improve our relationships with others. By doing so, it can help us to strive to be the best we can. Let’s remember that everybody has setbacks. We just need to learn from them, forgive ourselves and move on.
Time for reflection
Ask the students to think about something that they have already achieved.
Ask them to think about how they achieved it.
Encourage the students to reflect upon whether the achievement would have been easier if they had been more organized and had considered things more carefully before they started.
Ask them to think about something new that they would like to do.
Ask the students to consider the steps that they might take to achieve their goal.
Encourage them to use other people’s examples and successes to motivate them, but to remember that everyone’s route through life is different, so it isn’t always helpful to compare.
Prayer
Dear God,
Please help us to make good decisions as we move through life.
As we think about our dreams and ambitions,
Please help us to think carefully and move forward by taking one step at a time to reach our goals.
Please give us the patience and wisdom to realize that we will encounter setbacks along the way,
But that it is good to celebrate each step that we complete successfully.
Amen.
Song/music
‘Step by step’ by Whitney Houston, available at: https://youtu.be/sWa5vE4MUpU (4.11 minutes long)
