After being “annoyed” by my dirty windows at home for a few days, they are finally clean. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not like my life depends on it. But whenever I work out and look outside, I see the winter dirt on the glass – and it bothers me. The good thing is: at some point, it’s simply enough. And that’s when humans (me) start to take action.
So I cleaned the windows. Including the shutters. They bothered me too. And wow – suddenly it’s so bright in my bedroom. See? Just do it. It might actually turn out well. Small Steps Can Change Your Life.
And while I was cleaning the windows, I caught myself thinking: interesting how often life works exactly the same way. We see something that bothers us… and still keep looking at it for quite a while before we finally change something.
A few days ago, I gave a wonderful talk for a client. Afterwards I spoke with several participants and once again noticed that behind many masks of happiness, the opposite is often hiding. “I’m not happy.” I heard that sentence again and again. There are many different reasons for that. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter in this moment – because all of us carry our own challenges from time to time.
So today I want to remind you of two simple ideas that might help you put on the blue glasses again and start seeing the good in life.
- Eliminate everything in your life that creates negative feelings
I can already hear you saying: “Yes, but Norman… that’s not possible.” Well… who actually has it in their hands? Or let’s go one step earlier: who chose it?
Your job. Your relationship. Your lifestyle with smoking, alcohol, or other habits. The pain that comes from extreme sports. The country you live in. You are 100% responsible for the decisions in your life. And even if other people make decisions for you – if you allow that to happen, you are still responsible.
Which means something interesting: Finding the person who can change everything is actually quite easy. And that person is not far away. And yes – if you can’t or don’t want to change every part of your life, start with the small things.
Which sweater has been scratching for weeks? Which pair of pants has been too tight for a while? Does your dusty apartment annoy you? Your messy desk? Your dirty windows from winter? Start changing those things. Because most things in life don’t change on their own.
- Take small steps and create a success mindset
You can set huge goals and need years to reach them. Or you set goals so small that you reach at least ten of them every single day. And then you celebrate yourself ten times a day.
Maybe you’re smiling right now and thinking: “That’s not success if the goals are that small.”
But let me ask you something. Who told you that? Who inside your mind decided that small achievements are not real success? You want to lose weight? Walk up the stairs once. Then walk down again. Tada. Success. You just moved 20 steps closer to your dream weight.
And yes – you are allowed to celebrate that (maybe not with a donut or a beer).
But honestly: if you did this for one month – celebrating even the smallest wins – do you think your self-confidence would change? Because suddenly you would start seeing yourself as someone who actually achieves goals. And what would that feeling do to you? It would motivate you to go for bigger goals. The momentum you created yourself would start moving you forward. So why not try it? It might actually work. 🙂 Or you can keep waiting for everyone else around you to change. Good luck with that.
Maybe today is one of those moments – just like with my windows. The moment when you realize That’s enough. I’m changing something. And then simply start. With one small step.
