The theory that we are taught, that you must "change everything" all at once, and right away, in order to make a difference, just is not true, and has set many a person up for terrible stress and anxiety, and utter failure, whether it is in relation to diet, exercise, relationships, careers, or so on.

I am sure that you can think of many blanks of your own to fill in on this subject.

Or go ahead, borrow mine!

If we are immobilized by the overwhelming task before us, to the point of being unable to start, giving up, or worse yet, running in the other direction, what exactly is the point??

Whereas, if we give ourselves permission to make changes, however big or small, geared specifically to our own individual comfort levels and needs, as we work towards our ultimate goal, we might discover that the entire project looming before us has suddenly become much more doable.

And enjoyable!

There is nothing wrong with BIG changes, especially if they feel comfortable and manageable to YOU. And sometimes a big drastic change is even necessary. But more often or not, big changes create big expectations, big letdowns, and big failures if they are not realistic, attainable, and sustainable.

A friend of mine gave me a book recently called The Butterfly Effect.

I think it illustrates the concept of small significant change quite well, and I LOVE its beautiful and positive message. It goes something like this:  

A butterfly could flap its wings on one side of the planet,

and set molecules of air into motion that could move other molecules of air,which in turn could move other molecules of air, until eventually,the force of all of these molecules of air, that began with the flap of a butterfly wing, could become capable of starting a hurricane on the other side of the planet.

Its presenters were laughed out of the conference.

But thirty or so years later, physics professors working in colleges and universities worldwide came to the conclusion that the butterfly effect is authentic.

Soon after, it was accorded the status of a "law" and is now known as The Law Of Sensitive Dependence Upon Initial Conditions.

And this "law" really does govern everything!

The extent to which you are able to change depends upon the initial conditions that exist within your life at the time in which you desire to make the change.

And even those conditions change over time!

Do not beat yourself up because you cannot achieve "perfection", whatever that is, immediately.

Just start. Wherever you are.

What you do with your life today, this very moment, matters forever!!

What you do to your body, what you do to your mind, what you put into your body, what you put into your mind, however small and seemingly insignificant, IT ALL MATTERS.

Small amounts of bad things, done daily, can create big problems in the long run.

Think smoking.

Just as small amounts of good things, positive changes, done daily, can create big rewards in the long run.

Think quitting smoking.

We need to do away with the All or Nothing mentality, and recognize that we are merely human.

We need to accept the pace in which we, as individuals, are comfortable with change, recognizing that any positive change is a good thing, and that there is absolutely no change that is too small to matter. 

Examples:

I will only eat ONE square of chocolate per day.

I will do a simple and enjoyable exercise, at a time that is convenient for me, for about 15 minutes, as close to three times a week as I can.

I will limit telephone calls to � hour maximum per call (to start).

I will go to sleep 1/2 hour earlier every night, working my way up to at least an hour or so earlier.

I will set aside 45 minutes to sit down and enjoy ONE  (of my three meals) each day.

I will take short deep breathing breaks as often as possible.

I will get up from my desk and stretch for 5 minutes approximately every two hours.

I will include one new fresh vegetable in my diet every week.

I will add a tiny speck of seaweed to one item that I eat each day until the flavor becomes so familiar to me that I like it!

I will get a body brush, place it within my bathing area, and scrub at least one section of my body on a daily basis, working up to scrubbing my entire body. 

Set a time frame, maybe six months, and assess where you are in your project during, and at the end of that six months.

Additional changes can be added as you go along you know.

Can you give up chocolate completely?

Is seaweed (and all if its health benefits) now a seamless part of your daily diet?

Do you actually sit down and "dine" now rather than gulp your food down on the run?

Has body scrubbing become an enjoyable part of your bathing ritual?

Are you more aware of the positive effects of the changes you are incrementally making in your life?

I have added a new exercise ritual to my own list. I started small, have done it daily, have added to it, and I like the changes that I am not only seeing, but FEELING!!

I just bet that YOU too will graphically see how the small changes you set in motion today result in big, positive, rewarding changes down the line! 

May health, happiness, and prosperity be your unavoidable natural state and your ongoing daily experience.

Gayle and Jaime / Wholly Macro