Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realising that life is made up of little things. – Frank A Clark.
Pic credit: http://pixabay.com
Little things are happening around us every day.
Every moment, in fact, we are encountering little things. Yesterday, when I was walking into a shop, a woman smiled at me. I smiled back and thought to myself, “That was such a small thing but it made me happy to be acknowledged by a stranger.”
Often we dismiss the small stuff because we are caught up in the bigger picture. We’re working towards our goals that are afar off and forget to stop and “smell the roses” along the way.
Not every little thing is as positive as a happy face or a helping hand, though.
Little negative things happen, too. Things go wrong some days. We can focus on them so heavily that they take over our lives.
Instead of letting frustration get the better of us, being able to see small positives will pull us through each of those negative days. Wonderful things are all around us if we could but notice them.
It all depends on our outlook and attitude.
Does small stuff make you sparkle inside?
Consider the following situations.
SCENARIO ONE: YOU’VE HAD A BAD DAY.
So nothing went right for you today? You had to start one of your jobs three times before you got it right; your friend forgot it was the day to meet you for lunch – and so on.
These negative things can be blown out of all proportion causing you to label the day a failure.
** Get back your sparkle **
If you focus on positive aspects of the day, your face will turn from a scowl to a smile. It’s not easy to see the positives because several happenings, one after the other, can really cloud any sunshine.
Maybe the job you started three times was very impressive when you eventually finished it. Be grateful and smile. Maybe your mum/spouse had your favourite meal ready when you arrived home. That’s enough to warm anyone’s heart – and tummy.
Seeing the happiness that little things can bring will change your opinion of the day. It really wasn’t so bad after all, was it?
“As you start and end your day, say ‘thank you’ for every little thing in your life, and you will come to realise how blessed you truly are.” Unknown.
SCENARIO TWO : BIG THINGS ARE A PRIORITY NOW.
When you were a kid, your day was filled with little things that brought a smile to your face. You ran outside in the rain; you looked with wonder at the first strawberry growing on your plant; you sat on your swing and laughed as the breeze blew through your hair.
Now, though, there’s no time for the playful things of life. The big things have taken over. Rush to the bus so that you get to work on time; cancel morning tea with your friend because an important meeting has suddenly been scheduled – and so on and on.
** Get back your sparkle **
One way to cope with the busyness of life while you make sure you put some small stuff back into the mix, is to follow the five/two and two/five rules.
On week days, schedule five jobs for the day that must be done, but schedule two things for yourself that you love to do.
At the weekend the numbers reverse. Do five things for yourself – a family picnic, coffee with a friend – but schedule two jobs that must be done to keep your life afloat.
“I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things . . . I play with leaves, I skip down the street and run against the wind.” Leo Buscaglia.
SCENARIO THREE: PEOPLE ARE ANNOYING YOU.
Well, that’s part of life, eh? People annoy us, of course. Family, friends, ones we love, people in our work situation, all annoy us at times. Dealing with annoyances isn’t easy.
I find that instead of managing the day as things happen, I try to set the agenda or feeling for the day myself. That way I can better deal with whatever comes along.
** Get back your sparkle **
I’ll tell someone I love them, compliment someone on their work or how they look, drop a coin into the busker’s hat, and generally be on the lookout for opportunities to pass happiness on. This makes me happy inside, as well as the other person.
Of course, every day isn’t going to go along like this – in a positive way. There’ll still be difficulties to overcome and disappointments to handle. But we won’t come crashing down as far as we might have, had we not started the day off positively.
So try to factor the small stuff into every day. You set the agenda and see the difference that makes, to you and others.
“You are precisely as big as what you love and precisely as small as what you allow annoy you.” Robert Anton Wilson.
SCENARIO FOUR: SMALL STUFF THAT DOESN’T SPARKLE.
One weekend we looked after two children while their mum flew interstate for a job interview. The 10-year-old asked me a question, when we were getting ready for a picnic. “Why do you worry so much about little things?” I was taken aback. When I thought about it, I found, to my surprise, that Ido this a lot.
Little things annoy me, like: Where are the scissors? (I always put them back in their appropriate place, but other family members don’t.) Why is the ‘phone ringing just when I’m ready to leave for an appointment?
** Get back your sparkle **
Instead of just accepting that these things happen, I was displaying annoyance. I could see that these little things were setting the tone for the day. I wasn’t in control at all, they were.
From that moment on I decided to monitor my behaviour to my own and others’ advantage. These are only little things but the minute I accepted that things happen and worked around the issues without getting cranky, the day was happier.
In this scenario, attitude is key. How easy it is to change our attitude! I could see beyond the trivial to the many good things about the day.
“Little things seem nothing, but they give peace, like those meadow flowers which individually seem odourless but all together perfume the air.” Georges Bernanos.
Which leads me to wonder – are there really any little things in life?
I’m reminded of the words of Bruce Barton: “Sometimes when I consider what tremendous consequences come from little things, I am tempted to think there are no little things.”
From now, I’ll look at small stuff in a different light.
It’s the small stuff that can reach inside ourselves and out to others, and change a day entirely. When we stop concentrating on annoyances, minor problems, or the busyness of life, we are open to seeing little miracles all around us.
Smile and let the sun shine through you to others with whom you come in contact each day. You don’t know when the little things you do and say will make a difference – somewhere.
The world might be a better place because of the small stuff that you were responsible for, that grew and grew into bigger stuff.
What small things mean a lot in your life? Please leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you.
Erral and Jenna are passionate about helping people leave their ordinary, blah kind of life behind, and empowering them to live a satisfying and fulfilling life. They are the founders of Success Jennarator. Find them on Twitter @Jenna935.
About this site: Hi! I’m Tia. Multi-passionate Sparklepants, Life Lover, Curator of Awesome. I run this website featuring kickass inspiration to help you sparkle through life, no matter what! Go here to ignite your Inner Sparkle — that shimmery part of your spirit that says YES to courage + connection, and NO WAY to ‘shoulds’ + restrictions. Want to write for YLYW like Erral & Jenna? Click here.
Gosh you guys! Thanks so much for writing this post. Super useful attitude check and sparkly solutions to life’s “little” things. Couldn’t have said it better myself. Cheers!
So cute that I would find this post, right when I have decided to note the small happenings the universe manages just for me! Rather than waiting for the Avalanche of money or the new car, and basically overlooking all the goodies along the way, I’ve been jotting down cool arrangments via the Universe/alignment. Now I have a new term to add…getting my sparkle back! Love it! Thanks for the perfect post 🙂
Loved your comment, Sue. So happy you can get your sparkle back by appreciating the small things along the way, instead of concentrating on the big stuff. You’ll find many small happenings to be grateful for from the universe when you’re aware. Great comment. Thanks for sharing.
this really touched me now I will let go the remaining things that annoy`s me (little things)
Hi Jesudarmee. Thanks for stopping by to comment. What a great decision you’ve made to let go of the little things that annoy you. It’s not easy. Sometimes when I think back over my day I still remember little things that annoyed me. Don’t be disappointed with yourself if you find this happening. As we continue working at it, it will become part of what we do. I wish you well.
Awesome post! I would like to add develop a mantra. A mantra is a phrase that is your true essence. Mine is “I am doing work that makes a difference.” Come up with yours, write it up on your board and read it out loud every time you feel low.
Hi Merlene. Love your suggestion. I have used mantras over a long period of time but only recently have they become part of my daily routine. As you say, a mantra can lift you up when you’re feeling low. Thanks for adding this. Much appreciated.
Great post! I always love the use of the word “sparkle” – so cute, while also describing a big concept all in one. Thanks so much for sharing!
Thanks for your comment about the word “sparkle”. Tia is full of sparkle on Your Life Your Way, so writing about how to sparkle from the inside seemed really appropriate. Appreciated your comment, jordan, and I hope you can sparkle your way through the week. All the best.
I love this post. Right now I am on a journey to leave my blah life behind. So I will be looking to celebrate the small things as well as let those annoying small things go. Thank you for an inspiring post.