The small things...

Hi, everyone!

Thoughts from this month... 

I was so happy last month to finally get back into my newsletters and blog posts (and thank you to everyone who sent such lovely messages in response! I really treasured them).
 
Funnily enough, my first newsletter provided some great learning… (I do love a good learning situation ;)
 
As I set out to write my newsletter last month, I opened up my newsletter template.
 
And as I looked at the template, I could feel the “niggles” starting up.
 
That little voice in my head.
 
I looked at the picture at the top.
 
(It’s just a generic picture of a horizon for now… not especially related to the work I do!)
 
I could feel myself starting to get caught up on it.
 
I started to have thoughts like:
 
My picture isn't that relevant… what are people gonna think about it… maybe it doesn't look very professional… maybe I should find a better photo…
 
And so on.

My realization... 

I realized that these are the things that derail us.
 
These are the things we get stuck on... the things that stop us from doing the (genuinely) important things.
 
Because you know what?
 
It doesn't really matter what image I put at the top of my newsletters!
 
(I mean, of course it helps if it’s inspirational!)
 
But my guess is that people didn't sign up to the newsletters because of the image at the top.
 
My guess - or hope - is that they subscribed because of the content (or for a dose of sarcastic British humour ;)
 
And yet, little things like this can make or break our goals.
 
An example... 

One example I see in my work is with people who are starting a business.
 
So often I hear things like:
 
“I need to have an amazing logo, and website, and professional images, and a newsletter, and a podcast, before I can get properly started on my business…”
 
Don’t get me wrong, these things are important.
 
But it’s so overwhelming to think of doing them all in one go!
 
It’s just not realistic.
 
Of course we want our work to be as good as possible… but we also have to know when to draw the line.

Taking it further… 

Take the example of logos - have a think about this:

• Have you ever stopped working with a company because of their logo?
  
  (Do you even notice the logo of many of the companies you use or work with?!)
  
  
• Do you use Google because of the logo they chose; or because of the function it serves?
  
  
• Or your local grocery store: did you choose that grocery store because of their logo, or for other reasons?
  
  (My guess is that it’s other reasons!)

 
I understand the temptation to get caught up in these small things, but they can really derail us.
 
Now, I’m not saying don’t do them at all!
 
I am saying keep a sense of perspective:
 
- If you’re training for a 10k, you don’t necessarily need a full sports wardrobe before you start running. (You probably just need some running shoes!)
 
- If you were trying to eat healthily but then had a piece of cake at a party, you don’t need to give up on all the work you’ve done up to that point.

Final thoughts… 

​It’s not gonna be perfect all the time.
 
We are gonna hit stumbling blocks along the way.
 
But it’s how we handle them that makes the difference.
 
Approaching it with kindness (and realism) is often what we need:

• My newsletter image isn’t perfect, but that’s okay…
  
  
• I ate that piece of cake, but that doesn’t mean I ruined everything…
  
  
• I don’t have a great logo, but that doesn’t stop me from getting clients!

 
So, my blue image is staying put, for now :)
 
Maybe I’ll tackle it in the future.
 
But for now, I know that it’s a Small Thing, so I don’t need to worry about it.
 
[And what are the big things, for me? Writing content that people enjoy. Doing work that genuinely helps people. And trying to live up to my potential, so I can inspire others to do the same.]
 
So, my question to you today is:
 
What are YOUR big things? (the things that are really important to you)
 
And are you focusing on them... or on the things that don’t really matter?
 
Go gentle with yourself. We’re all just learning in this game called Life!
 
See you next month. Blue pic and all :)

Love,
 
Claire  

❤