I just finished my second 60-day Bikram yoga challenge. Unlike last year I didn’t see a big change. But that wasn’t the goal. The goal was learning something new each year.
What did I learn this year?
This quote from my yoga teacher Cynthia Wehr:
“We are constantly looking for big changes. In our bodies, minds, and lives. And because we’re looking for changes, we don’t see the small changes.”
We Are Conditioned To Think We Always Need To Make A Big Change
Think about…
When was the last time you read a headline that said something like: 10-Year-Old Startup Grew 20% Year Over Year.
Or you heard from a good friend: “I decided to start sleeping one extra hour every night. At the end of the week I noticed I have more energy for work and family!”
In some cases, a small change can feel like the kiss of death. For example, if someone told you: “Well I got a 4% raise this year.” You’d probably think, “Yeah it’s called adjusting for inflation…”
Nobody talks about this stuff or shares it on social media. Small changes are considered insignificant. Progress has to be BIG or it’s not called progress.
Who made up that rule?!
A BIG Change Can Leave You Feeling Anxious
Think about the last big change in your life? How did you feel?
If you’re like me, you were probably freaking out for days, weeks, and months, which was what I was like before my wedding last year.
Or maybe you were as cool as a cucumber until the moment the change actually happened. Then you started freaking out, which was what I experienced when I had to recently shut down a part of my business.
We want the bragging rights of the big change, but the small wins and incremental progress are just as important. They keep us focused, showcase our commitment, and when we look back overtime we see the big changes we’ve made.
Me practicing yoga every day for 60 consecutive days for a second year in a row didn’t produce a big change in my life. What it did help me do was handle the everyday stressful moments we all face when starting off a new year, and that alone was pretty significant for me.
Now I want to know what is a recent small change you made, and what was the impact it had on your life?
