Small Steps to Big Change: A Reflection from a Nurse Practitioner

As a nurse practitioner, I spend a lot of time talking with patients about habits—how we form them, how we struggle with them, and how we get back on track when life inevitably gets in the way. One of the most common themes I hear is disappointment. Disappointment that the diet didn’t stick, the exercise routine faded, or the stress management technique got left behind. And underneath that disappointment is often a belief that if we can’t do something perfectly, we’ve failed.

But the truth is, we don’t need grand plans to make meaningful changes. The most powerful shifts often come from a collection of small steps. These are the kind of changes that fit into your real life, not an ideal version of it. It can be as simple as adding another vegetable to your next meal, taking a 20-minute walk at your lunch break, calling a friend to catch up instead of watching TV in the evening, or switching to a bubbly water mocktail instead of an alcoholic beverage. Those little factors added together over and over again can lead to profound changes and a version of you who feels healthier, happier, and more grounded.

It’s so easy to show grace to our friends or loved ones when they’re struggling, but so much harder to offer ourselves that same compassion. We expect to see results immediately. We expect to arrive at the destination without wandering off the path. But progress isn’t linear. Missing one day isn’t failure, it’s just one day. The important thing is choosing to show up again tomorrow.

If I could wish one thing for every patient I meet, it would be this: take the next best step. You don’t need to see the whole road ahead. Just take one small, kind, intentional action in the direction of better health. Whether it's a short walk, a mindful meal, or a moment of rest, those steps add up—and they matter.

Because change doesn’t require perfection. It just requires persistence, and a little self-compassion along the ways.

Wishing you abundant health and wellness,

                Stephanie Segura, FNP-C, L.Ac