Of Drops and Oceans

Framed in time, several little decisions matter more than a grand one…

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

It is not a profound lesson by itself. On the surface, the logic of it seems simple to grasp, and it even feels self-evident. But I have found it to be a strong compass as I navigate through life. Here goes: All the little things add up. This is what some refer to as compounding. Every single thought, word, and action is a seed that eventually germinates and becomes something much more than it is today.

In a sense, this adds a measure of seriousness to life. You can no longer take any decisions for granted. There is really no such thing as idling away. In this moment, you are deciding your future. It also means though that mistakes are only costly if sustained. So the time to adjust is now. Pick yourself up and keep at it…after every single misstep. The time spent ruminating about it is time lost.

We ought to forgive ourselves (and others) quickly and move on.

But this also means that the big things don’t matter as much as we think they do. Because no matter how big one event is, it is still one event. In the passage of time, it may not disappear, but it will certainly diminish. We spend much of our lives either in search of one big good or avoiding one (some) big evil. This contorts our focus and we lose sight of all the smaller things that appear inconsequential, but when taken together, and framed in the context of time are significantly larger than the major event.

Photo by Aron Visuals on Unsplash

This I guess is why many have argued that processes matter more than outcomes.

And why consistency is a greater predictor of results than strength or skill.

Pay attention to the little things.