Go Team 2023! The biggest picture

When you are building a habit, you are constantly going back and forth between the big picture (the habit, the system, the goal) and the small picture (the task of the day, the hour, the minute.)

It can be tricky to remember that the task in front of you will add up to the future goal. Conversely, when we are focused on the future goal it can be really frustrating if today’s circumstances require us to change our planned task – it can end up feeling like changing one day’s task will prevent us from ever reaching our goal.

That’s why, today, I’m inviting you to think of the biggest picture, not just the big/small ones.

What’s the biggest picture?

Your sense of wellbeing.

Yep, whether you are doing cardio, yoga, or meditation, whether you are running or writing in your journal, whether you are dancing or taking mindful breaths, the habits you are building are all in service of creating, improving, an expanding your sense of wellbeing.

And that’s good news for every part of your big picture and of your small picture.

It means that the repeated actions that move you toward your goal are part of the biggest picture.

It means that changing today’s task to match today’s circumstances is part of the biggest picture.

It means that anything and everything that improves your sense of well-being can be part of that biggest picture.

You can stick with your plans or you can switch them up and still be moving toward the place you want to go.

Keeping the biggest picture in mind lets you enjoy both today’s victories and the victories that lie ahead.

Recognizing the importance of the biggest picture lets you ‘off the hook’ if your plan was to do some intense HIIT but your body is asking for some yoga.

It also gives you room to be kinder to yourself when you aren’t feeling well. And, with well-being as your ultimate goal, it only makes sense to take a nap to ward off that headache, or to stick to something low-intensity when you have a cold.

Obviously, I believe that habit-building, creating systems, and taking repeated action are useful practices – otherwise I wouldn’t be writing these daily posts.

However, I think it is really important to remember that these practices are not ends in themselves, they are in service of our peace of mind, of strength, of flexibility, AKA – our wellbeing.

So, when it comes to being kind to ourselves in these practices and about the details of these practices, it’s vitally important that we remember the biggest picture and do what we can to stay true to it.

Wishing you ease and wellbeing, Team!

Here’s your gold star for your efforts today: