Celebrate the seemingly small.
See the small as large.
In a world filled with the need for instant gratification, big ideas of performance and productivity, and a societal pressure for success, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, even defeated, if we don’t step up and meet these demands.
I don’t know about you, but I often feel like I am not doing or being enough. I “should” be teaching more, working more, creating more, reaching more people through social media. I “should” be better at making healthy meals at home, having more family adventures, be a better mom, a better wife, friend, daughter…
I was taught to dream big. I was going to hike the Appalachian trail after high school. I wanted to travel the US and live in a van. I wanted to be an artist. As I look back at this little list, I quite like it! I still want to hike the AT, travel in a van and be an artist. But at a young age, all I had was the end result in mind. So, when I needed to go to work to pay for life in the states (you know, the car insurance, cell phone bill, car payment, and high rent) I found myself disappointed. I wasn’t living the life I dreamed of.
Instead, I was working at Pier 1 Imports, Chili’s Restaurant or Bank of America, and sometimes more than one job at a time just to make ends meet. Who knew that you needed savings to hike and not work for 2-3 months? And you need to save thousands to buy and convert a van, pay for gas, repairs and insurance, food and whatever else may come up along the way. I was young and very much a dreamer. What I didn’t have was the tools to break down those big dreams into small, practical, achievable steps.
Flash forward 20+ years and I am still learning these lessons. Through hard work, successes and setbacks, I find myself here, living a pretty ideal life (for me anyway). My partner and I are entrepreneurs, raising our two children in a remote town in Central America. We have made many of our dreams a reality. And as we continue to dream big, I am reminded that I need to come back to the “small”.
In order for our businesses to be abundant, it is essential that we enjoy the day to day. Each new client, each class I teach, each moment of connection may appear small on the outside, but they are most important things to celebrate. Because it is each interaction and each step I take along my path that will ultimately bring me to where I am meant to be. If I only have eyes for the end prize, I will miss the fruits of my labor, the joy of the journey along the way.
It is these seemingly small accomplishments that motivate, encourage, and give us the gratification we all desire to keep going, to continue to pursue the bigger picture.
My work these days is to establish more healthy habits. And I am not talking anything big. Remember, this is about the small things.
For one, I am making sure I spend at least 20 minutes every day writing. When I clear my mind through free writing, I find myself more aligned with the best version of myself and I am a clearer communicator, focused worker, and a more patient mother.
Make space for gentle movement. After having Koa, my physical practice went on hold. And now, just over 2 months out, I am feeling ready to slowly add it back into my daily routine. Even if I only get 5 minutes when I lay in bed at night before I fall asleep, I call that a win. Remember, it’s the small things!
My morning “coffee” is ritual that nourishes my body and ignites my spirit. Instead of defaulting back to plain coffee and relying on caffeine to get me through my mornings with a newborn (which I definitely have been doing) I am changing it up. Just this morning, I warmed some milk with three dates, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, reishi, and powdered cacao. Then popped that in the blender until it was creamy, smooth, and frothy. I poured it into my favorite mug (added just a splash of coffee to it because I really love the taste of coffee!) and felt after that first sip, I felt I had already done something wonderful for myself today. When you start the day off well, it has a beautiful effect on the rest of the day.
Lean into structure. It may come as a surprise to some of you, but I don’t do well with structure. I am terrible at taking my vitamins every day. I basically refuse to ever work a 9-5 again. And if I had to eat oatmeal for breakfast every day, I think I would lose my mind. However, I am adding structure into my week so that my foundation is a bit more stable. From this stability, I am learning, I can be even more productive and open to possibility. I am definitely not eating oatmeal every morning, but Matias and I are organizing our week night meals. Tacos on Monday, slow-cooker meal on Tuesday, Buddha Bowl Wednesday…you get the idea. There is still room for variety (the spice of life) but it takes some of the unknown out of the week and sets out a general plan that we can work together on. We started a couple of weeks ago and I feel so much less stress around dinner time. It’s one less thing for me to have to think about.
These four things aren’t BIG things. They are small habits and practices that I can achieve without too much effort. And, when I celebrate these small things, I find they add up to something much bigger. By doing these things, I prioritize my wellbeing. When I am well, I am my best-self. When I am my best self, I work with more clarity. I am present, engaged and patient with my children and husband. I make time for friends and nurture my relationships.
There will always be time for hard work, to reassess and to look toward our end game. Having a clear vision of what you want will always help you manifest the life of your dreams. AND don’t forget to enjoy the moment. Find joy in each page you write, each sip of your morning coffee, and every time you roll out your yoga mat. Celebrate each new person that comes into your class, or signs up for your email list. Be grateful for a few extra minutes to answer messages thoughtfully. When you make a Canva story and post it to your Instagram, celebrate that.
Whatever it is that you do or are working toward, take the time to really see and appreciate each seemingly small wins.
Go ahead, make a list of a few, even just one, thing, habit or practice, that you can implement that will align you with your goals. Remember, for this, you don’t have to think big. Here are some other ideas of small things that might add up to something big:
Wake up earlier. Set the tone for your day so you aren’t rushed and have time for your morning routine.
Draw, paint, write, dance, sing or do “the thing” for 20 minutes every day. If you want to write a book, create art, or become a dancer you have to make it a habit. Start small. Just 20 minutes. If you miss a day, try not to get discouraged, just start again the next.
Make Sunday afternoons your meal prep time. Get organized for the week so that you have more time to focus on the things you want to accomplish for work or with your family.
Delegate at home. Make a list of tasks for each family member to take ownership of. This will take some of the pressure off of one person being responsible for it all. Papa makes the kids lunches for the next day and takes out the garbage. The kids pick up their rooms before going to bed and help fold and put away laundry. You get the idea.
Drink more water. Staying hydrated is one of the healthiest, and easiest, things we can do for self care. Make sure you have a bottle or cup that you like, can bring with you and drink easily out of.
Make a list of what you would like to accomplish for the week. Have you ever sat down to work and felt overwhelmed because you didn’t know where to start? Write it down. Get a planner, use your computer notes or calendar, or find an app that will help you.
Commit to (at least) one movement class or activity per week. Find a yoga class that you love and go every week. Maybe it’s not yoga but a HIIT class or a run in the neighborhood. Move your body.
Take a class or workshop. Expand your mind and use your brain. When we learn something new or meet new people we are motivated, inspired, and renewed.
Meditate. Commit or recommit to a meditation practice. By finding a few minutes of stillness every day, you will find yourself with more clarity and productivity. We often think we are counter-productive when sitting still. In reality, it is from stillness that the greatest action can take place. Ever hear the Zen saying, “You should sit in meditation for 20 minutes a day. Unless you're too busy, then you should sit for an hour.”
The list, of course, goes on. But don’t feel like you need to add everything at once. Pick one or two things that you can add in for the next few months. Once they become a habit, add something else. Each small step will bring you closer to your highest self and the life you love.
Dream big. Start small. And watch how your life transforms.
Celebrate the seemingly small. See the small as large.
With love and gratitude,
Loren