It's only natural to want to move forward: in our careers, in our family lives, in our faith. . . . But how do we begin moving forward when there is so much weighing us down and holding us back? In Simple Acts of Moving Forward , author and workshop leader Vinita Hampton Wright offers simple but profound solutions to the problem of getting stuck in our lives, providing us with the help we need to move forward again. Wright, who has learned in her own life how to avoid gridlock, lists 60 suggestions for taking a step, making a change, and becoming the whole person each of us was meant to be. Take a Step in the Wright Direction Whether in our careers, our family lives, or our faith, getting stuck is never fun. More dispiriting still is feeling that there’s no way out of the jam we find ourselves in. But when so much is weighing us down and getting in the way, how do we even begin to get out of the gridlock? What must we do to chart a new course and boldly follow that path? In Simple Acts of Moving Forward , award-winning author and workshop leader Vinita Hampton Wright offers simple but profound solutions to the problem of getting stuck. Wright lists sixty suggestions for taking a step, making a change, and becoming the whole person each of us was meant to be, and nearly all of her tips can be implemented immediately and without any lengthy time commitments. Divided into six general categories—acts of creativity, acts of daring, acts of generosity, acts of healing, acts of integrity, and acts of joy—each is rooted in spiritual principles for living. With a compassionate and highly encouraging feel, Simple Acts of Moving Forward lifts us up while propelling us out of the past and into a promising future.Vinita Hampton Wright leads workshops around the country on the creative-spiritual process. She is the author of many books, including Days of Deepening Friendship: For the Woman Who Wants Authentic Life with God , The Soul Tells a Story , The St. Thérèse of Lisieux Prayer Book , and the novel Dwelling Places . She and her husband, Jim, live in Chicago. Vinita Hampton Wright is a veteran editor and writer of books and articles on Ignatian spirituality. She leads workshops and retreats on writing, creative process, and prayer. Vinita and her husband, Jim Wright, live in Arkansas.   Getting Unstuck, Moving Forward, Feeling BetterMost of us work hard, and we mean well. But we get stuck. And we get hung up, not on the big things or the months and years, but on the small things that make up our single days and hours. You may have larger dreams for your life, but your most common struggles have to do with what you’re doing today, during this small collection of moments. You’ve probably been forward-thinking enough to make plans, and you’re doing your best to make them happen. But even the best efforts don’t always satisfy you—and, too often, you beat yourself up for that. Sometimes you feel that you will never get ahead or even get beyond the spot you’re in right now. The only way to get unstuck is to take a step. It can be a big or little step, and you usually have a choice of directions. But it’s an action with purpose behind it, and no one else can do it for you. Moment by moment you and I are making decisions and taking actions that help us move through time. Sometimes we move ahead in survival mode, “making it” but just barely, and not in a way that feels positive or successful. Occasionally, we slip backward or make choices that undo some of our progress. And sometimes we move in a way that is meaningful and gives us a feeling of forward motion. This little book is for helping that forward motion. You can dip into the sections in no particular order. They describe sixty powerful acts that can make the difference in your hour, your day, maybe even your life. Some of these acts are easier than others, but they are all possible, and they will definitely move you forward. One simple act is a step in the right direction. It won’t take longer than five minutes to read any one suggestion in this book. And in many cases, it won’t take longer than a few minutes to actually take the step. Some steps will lead you to carve out larger blocks of time, such as an afternoon activity or a weekend trip. But the majority of these acts are designed so you can do them immediately. Their purpose is to help you get unstuck from right where you are. At the end of each act is a short prayer to help you, if you so choose, reach out to God for the love, wisdom, and power that are beyond your own abilities. After the prayer is some space, in case you want to make a note to yourself. If you follow through and do a simple act of moving forward, you might just want to celebrate by writing down what you did. Read these acts one at a time. Be kind to yourself. And be kind to all the other folks who are trying to take those forward steps as well. Journey with them when you can. A step at a time, in good company, will make us all fe