“The Japanese philosophy of kaizen emphasizes that business gets better a little bit at a time. Progress is made in small, seem ingly insignificant increments. This outlook can help any individual or company who wants to move for ward.”

—Dr. Barton Goldsmith

When I first read the above quote in Barton Goldsmith’s great new book, “Emotional Fitness at Work: 6 Strategic Steps to Success Using the Power of Emotion,” I had a flashback to my childhood.

I remembered my father saying, “Yard by yard, life is hard, but by the inch, life’s a cinch.”

The wisdom of the statement stands on its own. Whether we relate with it as folk wisdom or what the Japanese call “kaizen,” it seems that when we do what is ours to do in the moment at hand the next moment seems to take care of itself.

Likewise, when we get to that moment the next one seems to unfold in a similar manner.

It’s when we project our attention too far out in front of us that we tend to stumble and misuse, or simply miss, the moment at hand because our mind and our body are in two different places. This can only lead to confusion and, if we are trying to create or accomplish something, great frustration as well.

I once read that in biblical days people would strap small clay lamps upon their feet at night to light the way as they walked along the uneven and stony paths.

The lamp would cast light several feet in front of the person walking, which is really all they needed to move toward their destination, one step at a time. It required that they pay attention only to the next step on the journey, having faith that each step to follow would take care of itself.

Perhaps this is what David was referring to in Psalm 119:105, when he wrote, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

His awareness of God’s presence (Light) in the moment assured him that each step along the way was guided, and that was all he needed to know.

As a more contemporary example of how moving forward in the darkness with faith works, consider this the next time you drive your car at night on a dark highway. Your headlights only allow you to see what lies a few feet in front of you, but you still move forward trusting that you’ll arrive at your destination miles away by following the light from your headlamps. Now that is faith.

When we can walk through our days and, metaphorically, our darkest nights, with that much faith, life really does tend to get a little better and easier with each step taken. Where in your own life might you be able to apply the philosophy of kaizen today?

Kaizen is not just a business term—it can be applied to the business of life itself. If you are facedwith overwhelming obstacles, deadlines and projects, or perhaps just the goal of making it through one more day, I invite you to stop for a moment and take a deep breath.

Then, invoke an awareness of Spirit’s presence right where you are by imagining you have two beautiful radiant lamps attached to your feet.

Lift your eyes off of the horizon called tomorrow, look down and take just one small step in faith, doing that which is yours to do in the moment, trusting the process.

Keep the faith. Keep it simple.

Keep on keeping on, one step, one breath at a time, and you will arrive at the life you have been dreaming of.

By the inch, indeed.

Dennis Merritt Jones is a lo cal spiritual mentor, keynote speaker and author of the book “The Art of Being: 101 Ways to Practice Purpose in Your Life.” Contact him at www.DennisMerrittJones.com.