I've been thinking a lot lately about the small things.
I'm thinking less about growing my list...and more about appreciating my readers.
I'm trying to make a bigger impact...with a smaller to-do list.
I'm letting go of the need to 'go big'...and being content with finding fulfillment in the small things in my day.
Today is St David's Day here in Wales, so I thought that today is the PERFECT day to share these thoughts with you. One of St David's most celebrated quotes was this:
Do the little things
Click To Tweet
(I actually had no idea until recently that St David came up with this mantra before I did).
I've noticed a trend over the last couple of years in my business: I seem to make the most significant progress when I get down and dirty in the smallest of things.
When I focus on the big things (the big list, the increased revenue, more outreach, the grandiose plans and strategies)...the less impact I seem to make.
Most of the significant breakthroughs I've experienced have been as a result of doing something small.
Publishing a blog post that I intuitively felt the urge to share...that led me to an idea for a new offering.
Creating a mini course that had only had passion - and no plan - behind it...(unexpectedly) helped me pay off my tax bill.
Tidying my office (especially after a certain four-year old has broken in and invaded my stamp collection)...unearthed a book I had forgotten about, that inspired me to keep moving forward.
Reaching out to a client to let them know I'm thinking about them...reminded them that they needed to hire me to design something for them.
Changing a graphic on my website...led to an unanticipated increase of people taking my Primary Test.
Whilst I fully believe in the spirit behind the message of 'go big, or go home' - I wonder whether we sometimes get caught up in the logistics of 'big' so much that we forget that greatness can be found in the littlest of things.
One of my favourite quotes (and, funnily enough, from another saint) is from St Thérèse de Lisieux:
“The splendour of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the little violet of it’s scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. If every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness.”
(If you're interested in exploring a spiritual path that revolves around the little things, I highly recommend St Thérèse's autobiography - The Story of a Soul).
If you've been feeling less-than lately, or simply not enough...I hope that this email serves as a reminder that it's safe to let go of the things that overwhelm you. They simply are not necessary.
Don't want to blog? Find other ways to reach out to others who need you.
Tired of list-building? Focus on the small things you can do to grow your list organically.
Don't feel like you have a 'big message'? Celebrate the breathing space that comes with simplicity.
Haven't got round to those lifestyle shots? Instagram it up, and rejoice in your real-worldliness.
Can't write that sales page? Write a short love letter instead.
Most importantly...look for the small things to be grateful for. Those little talents of yours - those quirks that you tend to overlook - they're the ingredients that make up your own unique recipe of success. When you accept and acknowledge the gifts you have been graced with, you naturally exude a quiet confidence that doesn't need big, loud packaging.
Or as Thérèse puts it so eloquently:
“If a little flower could speak, it seems to me that it would tell us quite simply all that God has done for it, without hiding any of its gifts. It would not, under the pretext of humility, say that it was not pretty, or that it had not a sweet scent, that the sun had withered its petals,or the storm bruised its stem, if it knew that such were not the case.”
If this post has left you feeling a little more inspired, let me know in the comments below. I'd LOVE to hear what small things YOU are going to celebrate this week. I adore reading your comments, and I reply to every one.
Have a great week, and sant hapus dydd David!
(Happy St David's Day!)