Think Small

I’ve been meditating for almost daily for over 17 years now. It’s not that I have this incredible discipline, in fact I lean lazy. But I felt urgently motivated to change my life. Hard times can do that - rush you into a calling.

It worked for me, it changed my life. So I got certified, kept learning (haven’t stopped) and started sharing everything I’ve learned with others. 

The Pareto Principle 

Also known as the 80/20 rule, and regarded as a Law of Nature, this is a general phenomenon that exists throughout - in economics, time management, business, nature, how we use our space - and it says that 80% of outcomes will come from 20% of actions. If you Google “80/20 rule examples,” you’ll find mind-boggling lists. For this conversation, here’s what I’m honing in on: 

• 80% of your outcomes come from 20% of your actions, so identify the 20% that have the highest impact (i.e. produces your 80% success). 
• 80% of success comes from 20% of people who attempt it.  
   

While I felt strangely liberated by the first bullet point, the second one bothered me. But while I can’t change laws of nature, I can embrace it. I want to share with you what I learned that's key to becoming the 20% of people, which I’ve applied successfully to my practice to make remarkable changes in my life and have witnessed in some of my closest friends who have applied it successfully in their businesses. (and I plan to apply this more rigorously in the aspects of my life that can really use the help.) 

Success doesn’t have a whole lot to do with luck, resources, or having freedom of time because even those that have these mess this up. Success - call it what you want - Joy, Happiness, Good Health, Money - has one key ingredient… habit

When I started my practice, I was very unlucky. I was super busy like everyone else, and my stress was no ordinary day-to-day stress. I was on a sinking boat. When I started my practice, I knew I was going to lose my city condo, car, marriage, and the financial instruments that gave me a little bit of safety (i.e. life and disability insurance, our investments, and most of our savings). I was going to start, not fresh, but behind the 8-ball with a ton of debt, two small kids (4 and 1 years old) and a start-up that I was literally starting up after being a full-time mom for a couple of years in order to have the flexibility to be with my children. I was also a sleeper-inner (not a morning person). 

There are two ways of looking at being busy and overwhelmed. 

1. You’re too busy and overwhelmed to start or stay consistent at a practice (habit) that could save you (i.e. change your stress response, change your negative self-talk, increase your creativity, energy, and give you greater control over your mind and therefore your trajectory). 
2. Because you’re too busy and overwhelmed, you embrace habits that could save you (emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, and also time). 

The key difference between those that reach their destination and those that feel stuck and spin their wheels is not luck, resources, time, or even will-power. The key difference is in their habits. I witnessed this in my clients who achieved their life and wellness goals over the last 15 years. 

We often think that in order to do better, we need to do big things

...get a masters degree, complete a training, secure a million dollars, do the big scary things. But it’s about the little things you do every day. Are you getting up to meditate, or are you pressing snooze or scrolling on your phone until you have to jump out of bed to get somewhere on time? Are you eating a balanced meal or throwing down some chips while you’re driving? Are you reading an inspiring book or scrolling social media? The answer to these questions directly correlate with your energy level and peace of mind. There are different sets of questions for other areas of your life that you want to achieve success in. 

Habits are changeable. 

You only need to make small, simple changes to change the trajectory of your life. And you don’t even have to be consistent with them 100% of the time. 

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits says that majority rules. Every time you make a decision, that action casts a vote either towards the way you want to be or away. Choose what supports how you want to ultimately experience your life the majority of the time. 

My mom taught me piano as a child for 12 years. For each mistake, she’d have me practice that part correctly 10 times. Over time, I had more good habits on the piano than bad ones, and because of this, my piano playing experience was ultimately way more enjoyable. Make your “mistake” - but not two days in a row, and not every other day. 

The habit of all habits

Morning meditation is a powerful daily habit to take on - it primes your day, your mind, and your body, and gives all other habits a higher chance at success. And, it’s a heck of a lot less painful getting up in the morning and sitting through 30 minutes of meditation than it is to live through hours of drama and anxiety each day. Especially the existential ones. I can’t tell you how many people who’ve made morning meditation a habit have reported that when they skip it, their day is different. Morning meditation helps you conquer time, space, your ego and all of its moods. It will prime your day and your life to be easier, more joyful, and deliver you to your long game, guaranteed. 

Love, Savitree

P.S. - What new small habit will you pick up?