Start Small for Big Results (Week 6)

Well, hello there – how’s it going?

As I write this, I’m listening to lofi beats on Spotify and feeling pretty relaxed. Which is funny because lately I’ve been feeling anything but relaxed.

Sitting in therapy earlier this week, I was practically a puddle on the floor as I cried tears of frustration and anxiety. Amazing how quickly our internal weather can shift!

The truth is, I’m working on a lot behind the scenes. 

Part purposeful glow up, part brand reinvention – there’s a lot changing for me (and I can’t wait to share more when the time comes!). 

This is an exciting time because I’m moving in a direction that finally feels uniquely and authentically mine. It’s also terrifying!

Through sniffles on my therapist’s couch, I worried aloud:

“How do I know this will work?”

“Will people actually pay for what I’m building?”

“What if I fail – again?”

Yes, it’s true – even the most practiced life designers among us still face legit fears, doubts and imposter syndrome!

A few days later, sitting in a circle with a group of women at my fave Richmond coworking space, one of my friends vulnerably shared about a relationship that’s feeling strained right now.

“I can control my actions,” she said, “but I can’t control the outcome.”

True for friendships, yes – and also? So, so true for me!

[So much so that, without a piece of paper nearby, I literally took matters into my own hands]

When it comes to making changes in our careers and lives – there’s what’s in our control, and what’s not. 

As I think ahead to the changes I’m making in my business, I can control what I do and why I do it… but I don’t actually have control over the outcome.

Yes, this could mean that my efforts could flop. But it could also mean that the outcome is even better than I could have expected!

Which brings us to Week 6 of our Life Design Sprint – taking action.

Over the past 5 weeks, we’ve practiced reframing our perspectives, discovering new and important things about ourselves, and defining what matters as we move forward. Last week we took the fun step forward to start imagining our Future Self.

Now it’s time to start taking action.

Having coached countless people through this part, I know how daunting action can be. And it has everything to do with how we define it.

Our tendency is to assume that taking action means ripping off the bandaid (eg: quitting your job, selling your possessions, and buying a one-way ticket to Bali).

Not only is that kind of drastic action bad for our nervous system, I can say with 99% certainty that it’s going to fail.

Instead, we have to start small. Like, micro micro small. This is why:

First, because small actions are safe actions. Safe for our nervous systems, our bank accounts, our relationships. You do not need to blow up your life to make aligned changes and choices.

Second, because when we take small actions, we learn lessons as we go. Try something → see what happens. It’s through the act of trying something that we learn if it works. If it works, we keep going down that path. If it doesn’t work, we make an adjustment.

Taking micro actions on your path to change means you’re de-risking your choices and building confidence along the way. 

Today, consider a change you’d like to make in your life. It could be something related to your Future Self, it could be something to better honor your values, or it could simply be a new routine or habit you’ve been thinking about updating.

Got it in your mind? 

On a piece of paper, write out: “The change I want to make:” and then fill in the blank.

Next, set a timer for 2 minutes and brainstorm all the things you could do to achieve this change. Here’s an example:

The change I want to make: Do 30 minutes of exercise every morning. 

Potential action steps:

• Lay out my workout clothes the night before

• Sign up for a new gym

• Talk to my partner about opting out of the family’s morning routine so I can workout

• Buy a Peloton bike

• Block the time on my calendar

• And so on…

Go for quantity here – you’re not committing to do all of these things, just brainstorming what you might do.

Once you have your list, I want you to ask yourself this question:

“What is the smallest, fastest, cheapest thing I could do to learn the most?”

This is a MAGICAL question! If I could embroider it on a pillow, I would (in fact, maybe I should?!). That’s because it gets you thinking about micro action.

Back to our example, your job isn’t to go out and join a fancy gym or completely upend your morning routine. Instead it’s to identify the smallest thing to try today.

You might have an answer already on your list (eg: laying out your gym clothes before bed). If you see a small, fast, cheap action you can take, try it! And see what you learn.

For example, you might learn that just because you laid out your gym clothes doesn’t mean you’re any less likely to hit snooze and accidentally sleep through your workout. This isn’t a bad thing! You’ve learned something about yourself and the next action you need to take.

It’s also possible you don’t have an answer on your list just yet. If that’s the case, take one of the ‘bigger actions’ on your list (eg: joining a new gym) and break it down into smaller steps – perhaps signing up for a free trial class one morning. Not only will you get that day’s workout in, but you’ll be experimenting with a new gym to see if you like it!

What’s the micro action you’ll take today to move yourself forward? Hit reply and let me know!

🌻 If you’re feeling ready to take action and would like a guide by your side, check out my Summer Sprint Sessions! 3 hours of private, action-oriented coaching with me – only available for enrollment in June! Learn more and sign up here.

Onward,