|
|
|
Welcome back to the Growing Tree of Life, our weekly exploration of personal growth and well-being.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issue Number: #097
Date: 3 December 2024
Reading Time: 4 minutes
|
The Power of Small Wins
Do you use New Year to set goals?
|
Most people are, so, as we step into the last month of 2024, it's a perfect time to look at how we can ensure that those goals will become a reality.
|
One of the tools we can use is the fact that small actions can lead to big changes.
|
In 2005, a young programmer named Jack Dorsey sat down and sent out a short message. It was simple, just sharing what he was up to. This small action didn't seem like much at the time, but it was the first "tweet." That tiny message led to the creation of Twitter, completely transforming how we communicate and share information across the globe.
|
This story shows the power of what Charles Duhigg calls "small wins" in his book, *The Power of Habit*. Just like that first tweet, small actions can set off a chain reaction of events with big outcomes.
|
In psychology, this is called behavioural momentum. Once you start, even with something small, it becomes easier to keep going. It's like writing one sentence turning into a full essay or a 5-minute walk leading to a 30-minute workout.
|
Researchers at Stanford University found that small wins can also lower the psychological barriers to starting. Big tasks often feel overwhelming, and our brains resist them. But when we focus on just the smallest first step, we get past that resistance and get going.
|
There’s also a fascinating physics principle at play, much like Lorne Whitehead demonstrated with dominos. He showed how one domino could knock over another 1.5 times its size. This creates a chain reaction, turning small efforts into massive impacts. By the 29th domino, you could, in theory, topple something as tall as the Empire State Building!
|
|
|
This domino effect is about momentum and unlocking growth. It’s the reason businesses focus on "keystone habits," as Duhigg mentions. These are small changes that lead to larger positive shifts in life.
|
Today's Tip:
|
|
|
Big goals don’t always need big gestures. They start with a single step, a small win, a single domino.
|
|
With December here, set those dominos in motion for the New Year. Think about what small step you can take to lead to something great tomorrow.
|
Here's to small actions and the big changes they can bring.
|
Thank you for reading, and see you next Tuesday.
|
|
|
|
|
What you can do next:
- Would you like to get personal coaching? Check out my website Lubo.Coach and book a free Discovery call.
- Did you find this newsletter valuable?
Do you know someone who could benefit from information like this?
Please forward the email to them.
- Have you been forwarded this email?
Do you like it?
Here is the link you can use to subscribe.
The Growing Tree of Life newsletter is sent out every Tuesday.
Reading time is usually 4 minutes or less.
- The Tree of Life Quest website is a resource for you-centred personal development. Check it out.
- I have a free webinar and a workbook "It's Time To Be Me" that helps you find out who you are, what are your values, and what should you focus on to create and live a life you love.
- Do you have questions, comments, suggestions or complaints?
I would LOVE to hear from you.
You can reply to this email or use the Contact me Form.
- Follow me on X (Twitter) or Facebook for posts about personal growth, life improvement and occasional threads with tips and tools you can use.
(Note: I don't post too much. Yet.)
- If you want to unsubscribe from the Growing Tree of Life newsletter, the link is at the bottom of the newsletter.
Lubo
|
|
|
|
Share this with your friends.
|
|
     
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
