One New Year’s Day, while still living in Connecticut, I experienced a pre-dawn Eureka! moment. I was walking my first mini poodle, Miss Noelle, down the hill, up the crest toward the village green, past the church, the library, the corner store and up the road near the volunteer firehouse.
That’s when I did an about face, retraced my steps and walked into the corner store to extend a warm “Happy New Year!” to the few residents already sharing a hot morning coffee.
That first day of a brand new year course correction got me thinking about those priceless and fleeting “small moments” that matter every day of the year.
Four Small Strategies With Big Promise
Unlike small thinking with its self-limiting resignation, thinking small is about the graceful embrace of what is present. It’s a form of attention that reminds us to:
Do The Next Right Thing
Your plate is full. There are too many demands on your precious time. You can put a halt to that tailspin by reminding yourself that you can’t do everything at once, but you will get things done. Doing so is a strength, not a weakness, girlfriend! Then, take a deep breath and ask yourself “What is the right and best thing that I can do in this moment?”
Build A Right Thing String
Henrik Edberg, author of The Positivity Blog, encourages us to focus more on “what matters” than on what needs to be done. Now, that’s something to ponder! He suggests: “Do something that you deep down think is the right thing.” That right thing could be for others, or it could be for you. Edberg adds, “Continue the string during your day as best you can. After you have added a right thing to your string – no matter how small it is – make sure to take a few seconds to pause and to appreciate the good thing you did. This boosts the positive mood within and ups the motivation to add another thing to your string.” We tend to think in terms of grand gestures or generous acts of self-sacrifice. Henrik emphasizes moment to moment mindfulness about small things that matter.
Create Something Small, Every Day
When you think about it, we are all starving artists. There’s some part of you – a talent, interest or craft – that is alive in your soul but receiving scant attention. You know what it is. There are so many “good” reasons to bypass that hum in your being. There’s no time; it’s a waste of time or a bad use of time. And, there’s the “I’m not worth it” rap: Who do I think I am? Most of us have a go-to response we can glom onto. Writer Austin Kleon says the key is to do something small, every day: “Figure out what your little daily chunk of work is, and every day, no matter what, make sure it gets done. People often ask me, “How do you find the time for the work?” And, I answer, “I look for it. You find time in the same place you find spare change – in the nooks and crannies. You find it in the cracks between the big stuff – your commute, your lunch break or the few hours after your kids go to bed. You might have to miss an episode of your favorite TV show, you might have to miss an hour of sleep, but you can find the time to work if you look for it.” Kleon reminds us that “Building a body of work (or a life) is all about the slow accumulation of a day’s worth of effort over time.” It’s the “something small, every day” that counts.
Make Progress With Simplicity
You and I know that many of the things in our lives have built-in obsolescence – the closets, garage, pantry, attic, basement, contacts list and desktop. We have our reasons for holding onto things, and the task of tackling them is daunting. But, greater freedom lies on the other side! The key, once more, is to simplify by thinking small, manageable, one task or area at a time.
Instead of making the practice of “thinking small” a New Year’s resolution, start in this moment by doing the next right thing. Build your string. Create something. Chip away at what no longer serves you.
