Small Steps, Big Changes
Newsletter in Brief:
This edition explores a truth we often overlook: clarity doesn’t come from thinking — it comes from trying.
While vision work is powerful, it often falters when it stays theoretical. What truly reveals the path forward is embodied experimentation — small, intentional steps that let us feel what’s aligned.
Key takeaway: You don’t need to be 100% sure. You just need to start small. Clarity is earned through movement.
This is a bi-weekly newsletter that shares strategies and actionable steps for self-mastery, leadership and my personal reflections and professional updates. Subscribe here!
I often speak of vision - the power of seeing our future self before we arrive there. And it’s true: neuroscience, psychology, even ancient wisdom agree that creating a compelling vision can pull us forward like gravity.
A 2011 study published in Psychological Science found that visualizing the process of reaching a goal (not just the outcome) significantly increases motivation and follow-through. Similarly, Dr. Gail Matthews at Dominican University discovered that people who write down and visualize their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them. (source)
But here’s the unspoken challenge: What if we don’t yet feel connected to that vision?
What if we picture a future… but can’t quite sense ourselves in it?
This is where most vision work stops short. It assumes clarity will come from thinking. But transformation doesn’t begin in the mind. It begins in the body. It’s the felt sense — the inner yes or no — that often tells us what’s aligned long before our minds can catch up.
The Myth of Clarity
We imagine our future self with perfect certainty. We journal. We vision board. We project.
But then we hesitate. Something feels off. Not wrong - just unreal. Or out of reach. Or we talk ourselves out of it, thinking: This isn’t practical. This isn’t possible.
That’s because clarity doesn’t come from contemplation alone. It comes from experience.
Herminia Ibarra, in her book Working Identity, argues that we don’t figure out who we are and then act - we act our way into a new identity. We become by doing. Not the big leaps, but the small steps. The experiments.
Vision is the spark.
Action is the clarity.
The dog that changed everything
Let me share with you a story.
For years, my family has had an ongoing debate around getting a dog. I always leaned towards ‘no’ - travel, logistics, and truthfully, I never had a dog growing up. The idea stayed in my head - abstract, undecided.
Then recently, friends asked us to dog-sit. Three weeks. Just temporary.
By Day 2, everything shifted.
Walks became moments of peace. The presence of another living being softened my day. The cuddles, the games, the joy - even the chaos - brought a grounding energy I hadn’t expected.
When the dog left… I was sad.
In three short weeks, I knew something my mind couldn’t figure out for years: I wanted a dog.
What changed? I tried. I lived a small version of that possible future. And my body, not my brain - gave me the answer.
This is how we evolve:
Not through grand leaps, but through tiny, low-risk experiments that let our next chapter reveal itself gently.
If you’re curious, Anna Lembke’s work on behavioral neuroscience and Annie Duke’s book Thinking in Bets both suggest the same: the best decisions often emerge from trial runs, not perfect plans.
✨One practical idea: Try one thing this week that mimics the future you’re drawn toward. Not forever. Just for now.
Why this matters
As a coach, I’ve seen this unfold again and again:
Curious about entrepreneurship? Start a side project.
Wondering about public speaking? Host a small circle.
Thinking of switching industries? Volunteer. Interview someone in that field. Try a one-day experience.
Stop thinking your way into clarity. Start feeling your way into truth.
Your body knows. When something fits, your energy shifts. You think clearer. Wake lighter. You feel momentum.
That’s the signpost. Follow it.
Reflection Corner
Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking better questions and having the courage to experiment with the answers.
Ask yourself:
What’s one version of my future self I’ve been mentally rehearsing… but not embodying?
What small experiment can I run this week to bring that vision into my lived experience?
And then do it. Not because it’s guaranteed to work. But because action reveals resonance.
Final Thoughts
Don’t do it alone.
We all need a mirror - someone to witness, reflect, and walk with us.
For me, with the dog, it was my partner who noticed the shift before I did. For you, it might be a friend, a peer, a coach, or a mentor. Someone who sees you, not just where you are, but where you’re becoming.
Because clarity isn’t a lightning strike. It’s a slow illumination that happens as you move.
And the only way to meet your future self… is to start walking in their direction.
Connect Deeply. Evolve authentically. Impact profoundly.
Live Beyond the Ordinary.
Curious to learn more?
1. For more articles, tips, and insights, connect with me on LinkedIn and ring the bell on my LinkedIn profile to be notified every time I share my top tips.
2. Reach out to me at hello@sanitapukite.com to explore the possibility to bring High-Impact Leadership Lab series into your organisation.
3. Looking to scale up your influence to move from performance to presence. Book a discovery call.
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BEYOND is a state of continuous growth and transformation. It’s about stepping out of the ordinary, redefining what’s possible, and leading boldly. Here, we explore leadership fundamentals - self-awareness, presence, mindset, behaviors, strategic decision-making and influence. BEYOND is for those who refuse to lead within expectations and instead choose to go further, think bigger, and make a lasting impact.