Have you ever hit a big milestone, which you thought would change your life or be incredibly fulfilling, only to feel a bit disillusioned?
Whether it was a New Year’s Eve party, your 25th birthday, the day you got a job, or anything else, sometimes the things we look forward to for months or even years leave us feeling a little flat.
When we put too much thought and desire into that ‘one big thing’ that will make us happy, we almost always feel disappointed. So, then where and how do we find happiness?
Big Things Are Just Little Things
The truth is, all the big things that we experience are really made up of many little things. One year is made up of 31,536,000 seconds. A snowstorm consists of millions of tiny snowflakes. An ocean is made up of gazillion drops of water. Just like that, our lives, efforts, goals, and happiness depend on countless little things. This is why the secret to your future is hidden in your daily routine.
When you start living for the small moments, you’ll realize how good your year went. Enjoy your morning coffee. Rather than dreading your dishes, take that moment as a chance to check in with your feelings or to say some affirmations. Maybe listen to a podcast. These small moments add up and create a beautiful, fulfilling life.
Continuous Improvement
Continuous improvement is the dedication to improving in small ways every day that will add up to a significant change.
Most people underestimate the power of growing by 1%. If you strive to improve yourself by just 1% everyday, you’ll end up 37 times better after a year. So, what does that look like in action?
Think about the goals you want to set. If you want to be healthier overall, then think about what habits can be improved. For example, perhaps you eat 5 candy bars a day. Just taking one bite less each day will make a huge difference at the end of the year! If you go to sleep at 2 am, try to get to bed just 5 minutes earlier each day. When you head to the grocery store, park a little further so that you walk a few steps more. These are all examples of tiny adjustments that are almost imperceivable yet can make a huge difference over a year.
If you want to grow mentally, start with learning one fact a day. After ten years, you’ll have a bank of 3,650 facts!
Make Intentional Choices
Remember each decision you make, no matter how insignificant it seems, is powerful and makes a difference.
If you want to become the author of a best-selling book, then start writing every day. Even if you just write a few sentences a day, it adds up.
If you want to get abs, then go to the gym every day. Make healthier choices – that one little “cheat snack” seems small but that’s where the secret to your fitness lies.
Imagine if you lived as if every decision mattered. How would your life change? The key to fulfillment is not in the big things. Rather, it’s in the small things. Build habits and routines that enable you to continuously improve, even if it’s just by a tiny bit. Every small step in the right direction matters, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see a difference by day two. Continue and persist, and know that as long as you keep improving, you will reap the rewards.
