Today is one of those days when nothing major is decided or achieved. Nothing big, only small stuff. Only? Well, even small things must be done. On closer inspection, most big things consist of small things. Writing lists, working through individual list items, making appointments, emails, phone calls… all of this takes up more space and time in total than all those dramatic decisions or visible changes themselves. Think about moving house or about weddings… Searching, finding, planning, sorting, packing, and unpacking takes much longer than the moving day itself. Not to mention weddings.
Most substantial changes are easier to recognise afterwards than while they are happening.
This applies to falling in love as well as falling out of love, to growing up as well as pregnancy (which is a comparatively quick and spectacular thing, especially for people who rarely meet the pregnant woman. She herself changes continuously, not suddenly, and has a lot to experience along the way…) or the path to mastery in any craft.
We approach the goal in small steps.
Even if every musician swears to practise every day, there are also days in their life when not much really happens. Finger exercises while you are sick in bed. Listening to your music because there is no opportunity or no energy for practising. Deciding on a new piece. A mental experiment might lead to a new emphasis the next time you play.
All these inconspicuous little things are part of the bigger picture.
This also means that we would not have to be so afraid of seemingly dramatic things like moving to another city… if we remembered in time that you can only eat that elephant one bite at a time. Baby steps will get you to any destination. It is not so important to put yourself under constant pressure, that only stresses you out.
Sometimes there are also days of microscopically small steps.
That’s okay.
Sometimes the muscles need a break, even the mental ones. On some days, we can catch our breath, take a break, breathe in… breathe out…. Think about something else. Some small thought will help you move forward. Or a new inspiration will flow into your project, an inspiration that you owe to the nap break.
The days of SMALL THINGS are essential and should be honoured more consciously.
So even if you cannot cross an item off your (presumably endless) to-do list today, you have probably still moved a little closer to your goal in some way… Congratulations! You are doing a really good job!
Heartfelt, wherever you are,
Today is one of those days when nothing major is decided or achieved. Nothing big, only small stuff. Only? Well, even small things must be done. On closer inspection, most big things consist of small things. Writing lists, working through individual list items, making appointments, emails, phone calls… all of this takes up more space and time in total than all those dramatic decisions or visible changes themselves. Think about moving house or about weddings… Searching, finding, planning, sorting, packing, and unpacking takes much longer than the moving day itself. Not to mention weddings.
Most substantial changes are easier to recognise afterwards than while they are happening.
This applies to falling in love as well as falling out of love, to growing up as well as pregnancy (which is a comparatively quick and spectacular thing, especially for people who rarely meet the pregnant woman. She herself changes continuously, not suddenly, and has a lot to experience along the way…) or the path to mastery in any craft.
We approach the goal in small steps.
Even if every musician swears to practise every day, there are also days in their life when not much really happens. Finger exercises while you are sick in bed. Listening to your music because there is no opportunity or no energy for practising. Deciding on a new piece. A mental experiment might lead to a new emphasis the next time you play.
All these inconspicuous little things are part of the bigger picture.
This also means that we would not have to be so afraid of seemingly dramatic things like moving to another city… if we remembered in time that you can only eat that elephant one bite at a time. Baby steps will get you to any destination. It is not so important to put yourself under constant pressure, that only stresses you out.
Sometimes there are also days of microscopically small steps.
That’s okay.
Sometimes the muscles need a break, even the mental ones. On some days, we can catch our breath, take a break, breathe in… breathe out…. Think about something else. Some small thought will help you move forward. Or a new inspiration will flow into your project, an inspiration that you owe to the nap break.
The days of SMALL THINGS are essential and should be honoured more consciously.
So even if you cannot cross an item off your (presumably endless) to-do list today, you have probably still moved a little closer to your goal in some way… Congratulations! You are doing a really good job!
Heartfelt, wherever you are,