This week I had two things that really bothered me. I won’t go into the details, but I wanted to shout to whoever would listen, “This is NOT RIGHT!” Of course, I didn’t, although my husband got the brunt of my irritation as I ranted about the complete hypocrisy of the issues, to the point I found myself angry and stressed. Anyway, I was in such a stew over it I noticed myself getting more worked up than I should, and I realized this was doing nothing for me or anyone else. Have you ever found yourself in the same spot? I see it often on social media. We have a microphone and believe we need to express ourselves. I don’t have a problem with people expressing their opinions. I just want to talk about how we engage and internalize this information.
Twenty-five years ago, the book, Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff…and It’s All Small Stuff, was published by Richard Carlson. This is a great quick read about letting go of the little, stressful things in life to help you find peace and calm in a stressful world. Since the world has not improved and can still be a stressful place, I thought it may be a good time to talk about this influential book. The book is based on how difficult it is keeping up with responsibilities, information, people, and how complex the world has become—and this was from twenty-five years ago! Just to put things into perspective, a quarter of a decade ago Google just began the prior year as a research project. Facebook was seven years away. US federal debt totaled $5499 billion vs $28.43 trillion by the end of 2021. Today you can use the phone and the internet at the same time. Twenty-five years ago, cell phones were not as common, and service was sketchy. If you were to go on vacation or a trip, you could get away from everything with no email, text messages or updates from work or friends.
Not sweating the small stuff is more important now than ever. We need to slow down, not speed up, and get the most out of life by disengaging from the crazy, fast-paced modern world. The book’s key message is how our life reflects our thoughts. If we can remain calm, even in difficult circumstances, live in the moment and learn to keep the small stuff small, we can find genuine happiness and peace of mind.
So, what can we do to let go of the small stuff? Here are a few thoughts that may be helpful:
Power and Control
Do what is within your power and acknowledge what is out of your control. Although we desire to shape every outcome in life, we do not always have the power or control. By recognizing what you can and can’t do can give you more peace.
Let Go Of Expectations
Many disappointments come from playing out a situation beforehand, and then reality turns it another way. Expectations can be beneficial but learning how to be reactive when things change can deter disappointment and possibly turn into motivation for something better.
Overthinking
Overthinking leads to assumptions and those are seldom based on facts. We often develop stress from overthinking. Stick to the facts and try to not make a “mountain out of a molehill.”
Look For Humor
The small stuff can seem intense, and we frequently fail to see the humor in the situation. Sometimes the funniest things happen in extremely intense moments.
Consider the Situation
When looking at small things that upset you, ask yourself if this will be important in the next week, month, year, or even twenty-five years. Most of us will concede it will not. A small moment in time rarely affects our life in the long term.
We can spend an enormous amount of time letting the small stuff get in our heads and life. Take a break and live a little less stressful. I am now laughing at the small stuff I allowed to upset me this past week. Wish I had recognized it a little faster, so I hadn’t wasted that short amount of time. Each day is an opportunity for learning. The small stuff can teach us plenty.
“We forget that life isn’t as bad as we’re making it out to be. We also forget that when we’re blowing things out of proportion, we are the ones doing the blowing,” – Richard Carlson
Robin Anne Griffiths is a certified master development coach, personal trainer, behavior change consultant, and yoga instructor. She specializes as a movement instructor for senior populations. Her mission is to help with living a fuller and healthier life as you age. Her Better You Series is three unique programs tailored to help with positive changes in diet, fitness, and life direction. She works with groups and individuals on life transitions to create personal balance – physically and mentally. You can find more information at https://robinannegriffiths.com.
