small changes, big difference. You can do this.

Over the past week, a yearly miracle has unfolded. Trees have bloomed, flowers budded, and the grass is green and growing rapidly. My lawn will receive its first mowing this weekend. Spring is in full swing! Only a week ago, everything was still brown and lifeless. How could it change so quickly? 

The air temperature turned up a few degrees. That is all. The grass was just sitting there waiting to grow with only a minor change in conditions. When the ground reaches 50 to 65 degrees, new life emerges. 

 Humans are like grass.  They start growing with only some minor changes in conditions.  

The most significant accomplishments are the result of very small impetus. Blogger and Coach Justin Thomas Miller provides an example. “Small changes done consistently each day can equal big rewards down the line. Take the doubling penny for example. If I offered you a million dollars right now or a penny that doubled in value every day for the next thirty days, what would you do? The gut reaction says to go with the million dollars today but when you double a penny every day for the next 30 days you would end up with 5.3 million dollars.”

We tend to think that we must make significant changes for us to achieve something consequential in our lives.  Most of the time that is not true.  Years ago, I wanted to get closer to God, so I started reading my Bible and praying just a little longer in the morning – a minor change in my schedule. Years later, I’ve written several journal books of prayers and read the Bible numerous times. I just turned up the heat a degree or two and started to grow.  

People think that they would have to win the lottery to get out of debt – a massive change in their income.  But if they put the money they spent on the lottery towards paying off one of their bills, one day; they would be out of debt.  $10 here, $25 there, and the debt vanishes while the bank account starts growing.   

Some folks don’t make donations to worthy causes because they do not believe they have enough to give large gifts. They think it would take a significant income increase to become generous, so they never experience the joy and profound fulfillment generosity produces.  However, charity starts with $5 here, $25 there given in proportion to one’s ability. Only a slight change in thinking and action produces remarkable results. One day you wake up a generous person.  

 People lose weight one meal at a time – or one snack at a time, plus one short workout at a time.  Minor changes add up to appreciable pounds lost, and health gained.  

James Clear, in his helpful book, Atomic Habits, discusses the importance of tiny changes. “All big things come from small beginnings. Small habits don’t add up; they compound. That’s the power of Atomic Habits. Tiny Changes. Remarkable results.” 

He continues. “All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.”
(James Clear, Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones)

In recent months, I have transitioned from Pastoring a church to writing. I am becoming a writer, and I love it. There is an essential axiom in this field of endeavor. Writers have to write! I’ve learned that I need to write nearly every day, even when I don’t feel like it. Writing is a singular endeavor that requires focus and personal discipline. Some days I stare at a blank computer screen for long periods. Words are in short supply, and the process can be maddening. However, over the past few months, I’ve “Grammarly” checked over 140,000 words. All of these words were written one at a time when I sat down one session at a time. The average 200-page book is about sixty to eighty thousand words. So, my atomic habit has created the equal of two books. Small patterns, impressive results.

Do you have a goal that you would like to achieve, but you keep putting it off because it looks so imposing? Perhaps today is the day to start down the path of fulfillment. Here are some suggestions.

• Break the goal down into minimal parts. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Start as small as possible and add habits according to your success with the previous endeavor.

• Pick habits that will have a domino effect. For instance, if you start reading the Bible and praying for a few minutes first thing in the morning, it is likely that the rest of the day will go better. Also, developing this small daily habit will uplift your outlook and feed your values. Nearly every aspect of your life will improve because of this one small change. It’s a small win, but it has lasting results.

• Remove distractions and create the best possible climate for success. As with growing grass, the ground temperature, moisture, nutrients, and sunlight must be right.

• Develop a system. Determine the best possible time and place to start on one tiny piece of the puzzle. For instance, I write in the morning because of several factors. My home is tranquil. I do my best thinking early in the day. And it feels great for the remainder of the day if I’ve written a few hours in the morning.

• If you miss a day, or two, or three, do not get discouraged and quit. Get back on track quickly.

• Recruit two or three people who will encourage you and celebrate wins with you. Allow them to gently nudge you when you’re slacking.

So, this weekend, my grass will be mowed for the first time this year.  I do not like to mow grass, so I pay someone else to do it. But I do love the brilliant green blanket that covers the ground, and I thank the grass for teaching me a lesson or two. I’m glad the temperature increased a few degrees. My suggestion: Make a minor change or two. Turn up the heat a few degrees, and you will see considerable improvements in your life.  

Live Inspired!

Don Mark

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