“Instead of trying to accomplish it all — and all at once — and flaring out, the Essentialist starts small and celebrates progress. Instead of going for the big, flashy wins that don’t really matter, the Essentialist pursues small and simple wins in areas that are essential.”
Greg McKeown, Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
If you’ve ever been guilty of biting off more than you can chew or of expecting too much too soon, then perhaps you will resonate with Greg McKewon’s encouragement to start small and celebrate progress.
In recent years I’ve come to value and even cherish the art of the small start in my work, my friendships, and even in cleaning the house.
But it’s a fairly new practice for me to begin to celebrate the progress that comes as a result, especially when that progress is unimpressive.
What does celebrating progress look like?
Today for me, it looks like this round rug in my sunroom office.
I’ve wanted a round rug in there for, oh a few years maybe? I’ve waited because I didn’t know exactly where to shop, wasn’t sure what style I wanted, and I didn’t have the room the way I wanted it anyway. Besides, I already had a rug that kind of worked and I was convinced a different rug wouldn’t make much difference.
But I’ve been dedicated to making small changes in this sunroom over the past few weeks and the small changes are adding up to nice progress. I took some time looking online and found this simple jute round rug, ordered it, and it arrived on my doorstep this week.
Now, my tendency is to continue to look for the next small change I need to make or obsess over lists of what has yet to be done.
Instead, several times since that rug arrived, I’ve sat in my sunroom and looked around, snapped a few photos, and spent some extra time reading in my favorite corner. In short, I’ve celebrated progress by actually enjoying the room. And this simple act of appreciating the progress on purpose has brought a lightness and calm to my soul.
These have been ways I’ve celebrated progress rather than looked in disdain at the still unfinished room. I moved my desk! I picked out a rug! Is it finished? Not yet. But I celebrate progress anyway.
This week at (in)courage, I’m sharing what starting small and celebrating progress has looked like for me in the area of personal health, both for my body and for my soul.
I also have a conversation with my dad and my sister on this month’s episode of The Hope*ologie Podcast about what celebrating looks like in our own lives and how we think it’s important to mark progress even if it’s small and even if it’s silly.
There are 3 ways for you to listen to the podcast: At Hope*ologie (including show notes!), on iTunes, or here on Soundcloud.
Today I hope you’ll save yourself from overwhelm in the midst of big projects by embracing the days of small beginnings and celebrating the progress that comes as a result.
Kelly Chripczuk says
April 9, 2015 at 7:12 AM“Small” is one of my words for 2015, so this book sounds intriguing. My other word is “exponential” because, to trust in the little, I think requires believe that small things can add up to More. Your focus on celebrating is so helpful, celebration gives us the energy to move forward again when the time is right.
Emily says
April 9, 2015 at 7:31 AMI love that, Kelly! “Small” has been my word for a few years. I wrote a whole book about it, in fact, releasing in August of this year. I’ve been on a journey of celebrating smallness – and now I’m beginning to learn how to celebrate progress!
Michele Morin says
April 9, 2015 at 11:48 AMGreat reminder! Even a SMALL something is SOMETHING, and there are days when that’s what my soul needs. Blessings!
Jennie says
April 9, 2015 at 12:09 PMThis is exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you!
Courtney says
April 9, 2015 at 2:01 PMI too do not take enough time to celebrate and enjoy the small victories…I’m always rushing forward to the next. Thank you for the reminder and the book recommendation (now on my library list). I’m going to purposefully try to notice and enjoy the small things the rest of this week.
Susan Shipe says
April 9, 2015 at 4:52 PMLove the podcast each month. I find the older I get the longer I can ‘wait’ on things. Live with one new thing before adding another – wisdom! Be glad you are learning this young!!!
Joy says
April 9, 2015 at 5:28 PMWow, that’s a pretty spot to work from! It’s so important to remember that “progress” doesn’t mean “finished — and that’s okay! Thanks for another great post. 🙂
Janet says
April 9, 2015 at 6:53 PMGreat post, Emily. I am headed over to incourage now.
Just a random question for you regarding the rug. Does it get vacuumed or just shaken out? Thanks. I love it by the way!!
emily p freeman says
April 9, 2015 at 8:59 PMNo idea – I haven’t had it long enough! I’m thinking I’ll vacuum it b/c shaking feels like trouble.
Ashley says
April 9, 2015 at 7:47 PMI love this! It has taken me time to realize the importance of small steps. Or really, the importance of recognizing small steps, small achievements. And maybe more than time, it has taken 4 kids that use my time, so really most of my achievements are small. And I celebrate each and every one, knowing they mean something, and are really big achievements. 🙂
Lisa @LisaAppelo.com says
April 10, 2015 at 1:35 PMI think doing small things, a bit each day, is really the only way I will make true progress on some cleaning up and cleaning out this spring. Three back-to-back graduations happening in the next month! So I’m inspired by your small step that made a big impact!
Kelly Grace says
April 11, 2015 at 4:01 PM‘Start Small’ has become my personal life-work mantra. Big may be aspirational, but it often leads to disappointment in myself or frustration with those I love most 😉
I’d like to take a small step and add an RSS option to my blog, but of course that created the big project of researching and understanding the hows and whys of RSS. May I ask which one you use? I’m currently considering MailChimp and feedblitz.
And thanks to your sister for her 2011 post “I Went White”. I love that a choice she made 4 years ago spoke fresh design inspiration into my life today.
Kayla says
April 11, 2015 at 10:46 PMI love this! I can get really overwhelmed with the big picture. I appreciate the reminder to celebrate, something that doesn’t always come very naturally to me, either.
We’ve been learning this year about periodically celebrating our progress in the arena of finances. But I hadn’t thought about applying that idea to homemaking and personal progress.
Wise words.
Lauren says
April 12, 2015 at 7:22 AMYour rug looks lovely! Quieting my room and slowly bringing things in has also been a good practice for me. Not just in decorating. I’m learning how to slow down and evaluate in every area of my life. I haven’t been able to fully articulate my thoughts yet, but I do know that your sister’s Cozy Minimalist course has taught me much more than just how to decorate a room.