Want to do something big? Think small.
Do you feel like you are capable of doing more in your life? Do you feel stuck in your job or circumstances but don’t know where to put your time or energy? Many people feel like this and I felt like that way for many years too.
I worked a graveyard shift in a warehouse, my wife worked days, we had 2 small children (now we have 4), and I was trying to finish my Bachelors degree. I didn’t get much, if any, sleep. I was tired, burnt out, and felt trapped. Many of my nights were spent thinking, “This can’t be it. I was meant for more than this.” I felt like I was going nowhere and falling behind in life. The pressure I put on myself was overwhelming, and frankly, I felt like a failure.
I spent a lot of time contemplating and praying about what I needed to do. During one of those moments I had a quick thought, “Narrow your focus”. Those three words changed everything for me. I was looking for something big. I wanted to do something important and be somebody important. As a result of this thinking, I missed all the important things right in front of me.
Was I being the best husband I could be, No! Was I being the best dad I could be, No! Was I being a great neighbor, friend, son, brother, the list goes on, NO! As I incorporated this thought, “Narrow your focus”, in my daily life. I stopped worrying about the “Big” things that ultimately don’t matter and started FOCUSING on all the small things each day that do matter. I focused on my family, my attitude, my thoughts, and ultimately who I am.
Focusing on the small things resulted in greater happiness and joy in my life. It gave me the meaning and purpose I was looking for and erased my feelings of being a failure. My desire for worldly pursuits such as jobs and money took a backseat, and because of this, the pressure I always put on myself disappeared. I don’t care about the world’s definition of success anymore, I care about being successful in the small things around me.