Think Small. Three Reasons It’s A Big Deal.

Think Small. Three Reasons It’s A Big Deal.

(Read in 3 minutes)“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” John Wooden

I began my true adulting in an era of everything big. The 80’s zeitgeist was big corporations, big money, big ideas, big shoulder pads, big hair. I embraced every bit of it, especially the hair. It’s funny, looking back, isn’t it? If you live long enough, you get to see how the pendulum of our culture swings and it’s fascinating. It’s a slow sweep but it never stops.

 

Reason One for Thinking Small

It makes you slow down. Why is that a good thing? Because when it comes right down to it, every big thing is composed of a lot of little things and when we slow down we are less likely to skip a step. Why does that matter? It makes life easier. Imagine how much less hassle there’d be if things were always done right the first time. Taking things just a bit slower focuses our attention on executing small details correctly and that always saves time in the long run. It takes less time to do it right than to do it over.

 

Reason Two for Thinking Small

 

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”~ Margaret Mead

 

Big things happen through small collaborative efforts! Think about bees. Every little bee brings only a few drops of nectar to the hive with each trip but the collective result is astonishing! A hive of bees, working together, can create 60 pounds of honey in a single season! That’s a five-gallon bucket of the sweet stuff produced by each worker contributing only minute amounts at a time. The compound effect in any endeavor is based on small, consistent steps!

 

 

Reason Three for Thinking Small

It saves work and money. Today, there is a rapidly growing movement toward downsizing, minimizing and simplifying. It’s happening in response to too many years of over-spending and over-consumption. Today, people are waking up to the fact that everything they own ultimately owns them. Many in the younger generation are beginning to embrace tiny homes and capsule wardrobes. Why? Because they have learned that experiences far outweigh “stuff” when it comes to enjoying life. Thinking small in possessions allows more time to enjoy the really big joy of the simple pleasures in life.

 

How about you? Are you ready to catch your breath, have time to think things through and get off the hamster wheel? It takes guts, I’ll be the first to admit it can be hard to buck the trend but the rewards of thinking small and noticing the little things is incredibly rewarding.

 

“…everybody wants to make a difference, but nobody is willing to be different.”~ Andy Andrews

 

I suggest you begin by setting a few very tiny goals. Tiny. One droppers. Like stopping for five minutes to talk to your dog. Or noticing the way trees turn colors in the fall on the side that gets the most sun. Or finding the big dipper and Orion in the night sky and marveling at how long they have traveled across the heavens. Then let those things sink in. Feels great doesn’t it? Ready to think small? Begin to see life through new eyes. I think you’ll love it.

 

See you Monday!