Fill your Jar
We overcomplicate things. We think all or nothing.
We spend our time and energy fretting over the little rocks, so we can avoid the big rocks. The rocks that actually create change in our lives.
We complicate food decisions. We stress about the small, order a veggie burger or a beef burger? Yet have a Dunkin Frappachino and a muffin for breakfast.
We complicate relationships, trying to fix each other’s small comments or facial expressions, yet don’t make efforts to enjoy the pleasurable things together.
We complicate every parenting decision, make homemade granola bars or get the store bought? But haven’t sat down and asked about their day or what friends they’re having trouble with.
We all do it, it’s human nature. We avoid the big rocks because they make us uncomfortable, it’s much easier to focus on the small ones and convince ourselves we’re making progress.
What if we go after the big rocks? Identify them, the large efforts that would make the most impact. Visualize what they look like, feel like, and where we would be one month, one year from now if we work on those big rocks and let the little rocks lie.
What if we stop stressing over what bottled water to buy, and instead challenged ourselves to just drink enough water? Or instead of waiting to start exercising until we finish our home gym, get out for a 30m walk everyday in the meantime. And the next time we want to point out one of our partner’s faults, ask them if they’d like to “insert a favorite past-time here” with us instead.
Wait for it… the 80/20 Rule. There it is again.
The Big Rocks are the 80. Those little rocks, they are the 20.
Do all the things that are big. Be so imperfectly consistent at those 80% of the time, and I promise the little rocks will become pebbles.
Take care of the big rocks, fill your jar to the tippy top with these first, and let the little rocks fall into the empty spaces.
