Knowing WHEN the Small Stuff Matters.
It’s the little things that separate us from mediocrity. It’s consistency with the little things that allows us to successfully manage the big things. Seems like we all have a lot of big things to manage in our lives right now, so let’s take a closer look at a helpful thought process that we can all benefit from.
It’s with great admiration that I acknowledge the fact that the book “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff and it’s All Small Stuff” has sold over 25 million copies since it was published in 1997. Amazon’s website includes saying that it’s a book that tells you how to keep from letting the little things in life drive you crazy. In thoughtful and insightful language, author Richard Carlson reveals ways to calm down in the midst of your incredibly hurried, stress-filled life. I read the book shortly after it was published and still utilize some of the strategies, techniques, and thought processes put forth in the book. I still feel it has value for today’s lifestyle.
Yet, thinking back to the year it was published, all I can think about is that it was published prior to the internet taking control of all our lives. Email was just beginning to be a thing and social media didn’t even exist. The books description mentions a “incredibly hurried, stress-filled life” from 27 years ago that, given the impact of the internet and social media alone, leads me to believe you can multiply that by at least 10 times to accurately describe the stress on all of us today.
That’s why in 2017 I was super-excited to read a book published by my all-time favorite author, Andy Andrews, entitled “The LITTLE THINGS – Why You Really SHOULD Sweat The Small Stuff” which offered a different perspective of the things that drive the way we live our lives and the happiness we seek each day. Amazon’s website includes saying “Have you ever wondered why we spend so much time and energy thinking about the big challenges in our lives when all the evidence proves it’s actually the little things that change everything? That’s right… Absolutely everything.” I continue to utilize many of the strategies, techniques, and thought processes put forth in Andy’s book and continue to highly recommend reading it.
But which is it? DON’T sweat the small stuff, or DO sweat the small stuff? The best answer lies in knowing when the small stuff matters and knowing when the small stuff doesn’t. The ability to discern the difference grows most quickly with real life experience. Ask any couple about to experience their wedding day if the little things matter and they’ll go on and on about the amount of preparation they’ve invested on the tiniest of details in hopes that their wedding day is as close to perfect as possible (the little things matter). Ask anyone attending a sporting event if the tiniest of details has to be perfect and they’ll likely respond that they really don’t care, they just want their team to win. If their hot dog, popcorn, taco, or slice of pizza wasn’t perfect, the impact on the overall experience is minor (don’t sweat the small stuff).
In the end, the small stuff either has value to us or it doesn’t. And we’re all a little different. Someone hosting a party might tell someone arriving that the beer is in the fridge and the chips are in the snack cupboard and everybody could be pleasantly happy with that. Another host might be focused on the timing of removing the bacon-wrapped-scallops from the oven right when guests begin to arrive so the smell of this delicacy is the first thing a guest notices. They may have slaved all day to create a unique experience which brings them personal joy. The host of the first party may experience a similar amount of joy just going to the store to pick up the beer and chips. Cool part of all this is that we all get to decide whether the small stuff matters for ourselves.
It’s not possible for me to provide examples of every experience we may have in our lives, but if you’d like to take better control of knowing when to sweat the small stuff and when not to, read the two books mentioned above. Besides, I Believe In ALL of You and believe that you all possess a humdinger of a bright mind. If you spend a little time pondering about when to go all in on the little things and when to not obsess, you’ll figure out which situations you can use either one or a combination of both to bring yourself the maximum amount of joy and happiness. That’s what’s most important about this article I’ve written today. Do get busy developing the thought process that works best for YOU in determining the value of the little things and when to sweat (or not) the small stuff. GiddyUp!