IF you want to accomplish great things in this new year, think small! Toss out the grandiose ideas and goals, and think about making improvements on a smaller scale. Thinking small, when it comes to setting goals for ourselves, will quickly replace the feeling of looming failure that often accompanies big goal setting, with the attitude “I can do this!”
Recently I read a piece by a financial blogger about the importance, in such a fragile economy, of thinking small instead of big when it comes to moving ahead in the world of finance and technology.
She states that the pressure to think big can actually stop us from doing anything at all, and how often the decision to shift from personal to global, is simply the accumulation of lots of small-scale ideas, which result in a large-scale outcome.
I believe that this same advice and counsel for the world of finance and technology, can also apply to all areas of our lives. For instance, let’s take this theory and see how it pertains to personal happiness and spiritual progression. What better example to use to examine this concept, than God himself!
Does our Father in Heaven expect us to learn everything at once? Does he place grand expectations upon us as we try to make our way through this mortal probation? Does he expect our progress to be monumental, and if it is not, are we labeled failures, having failed not only ourselves, but him? Or does he patiently and lovingly help us to make progress through small-scaled ideas with “baby steps?”
The answer to these questions are found in 2 Nephi 28:30. “For behold, thus saith the Lord God; I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; …”
Sounds like from this scripture, that this small-scaled approach will not only result in us gaining wisdom, but will bring success and an increase of blessings from the Lord!
One of my favorite quotes of 2011 was made by Jim Rohn. He says, “You don’t have to change that much for it to make a great deal of difference. A few simple disciplines can have a major impact on how your life works out in the next 90 days, let alone in the next 12 months or the next three years.”
Basically Rohn is putting into modern day context, the scripture found in Doctrine and Covenants 64:33. “…And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.”
Another scripture, equally significant, is found in 1Nephi 16:29. “…And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.”
From these scriptures we learn that it is the small and simple changes we make, that are more affective in producing a lasting transformation in behavior. It is the small shifts in thinking, actions and deeds, that seem to have the power to bring about the results that the prophet Nephi is referring to.
The New York Times, not too long ago, printed a series of articles called “Small Fixes.” These were stories about how small and simple ideas can have a major affect on people’s lives and society in general. They were brilliantly simple with monumental impact! They talked about everything from fighting cervical cancer to farming more affectively. Through all the stories ran a common thread. These major contributions, successes and discoveries, came by way of small and simple thoughts.
So as we get going in this new year, let’s not underestimate the power of thinking small when it comes to making lasting changes in our lives. Be it losing weight, reading our scriptures, daily prayer or service, let’s take the approach that our Father in Heaven recommends, “…here a little, and there a little.”
After all, 100 calories less a day is a start, one that anyone can maintain permanently, with cumulative results! And five minutes of daily scripture study is better than nothing, and allows us to receive of Heavenly Father’s blessings for keeping his commandment to read the scriptures daily. I think we all would agree that our Father in Heaven, like any loving and concerned parent, is eager to hear from his children, whenever they call home. As far as service is concerned, a kind word to a grocery clerk, a smile given in passing, holding a door for someone, all comes under service, and can make a difference in someone’s life.
Some might argue that this is way too simple, and not enough effort on our part to bring about personal improvement. However, my answer to that is, we all need to start somewhere, have it be simple and doable enough that we will be consistent, and then the miracle of habit and conviction will take over, and personal transformation will begin.
Our Father in Heaven knows and understands our mortal nature, our weaknesses. If the choice in his strategy for teaching us, and transforming us, is by small means, “…line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little,” we can rest assured that it is a winning approach and one that we should definitely embrace.
