Photo by Autri Taheri on Unsplash
In short: Most of what upsets us in a day is small and soon forgotten: a queue, a comment, a traffic jam. You can’t choose what happens, but you can choose how you react to it. Two simple practices help you let the small things go and keep your attention on what matters to you: mindfulness and gratitude.
“Let us not allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. Life is too short to be little.”
This quote by the writer Dale Carnegie reminds us that life is too short to waste time on things that don’t matter. It’s a call to action to focus on what’s important and not let the small stuff hinder our happiness and success.
You and I both know that life can be stressful. So many things can go wrong, and sometimes it feels like the world’s weight is on our shoulders. But what if I told you that you have the power to change all of that? You can choose how you react to the things that happen in your life. You have the power to decide whether you’ll allow the small things to upset you, or let them go and focus on what matters. I wrote more about that choice in Responding to life’s challenges.
Think about the times when you’ve let a small thing upset you. Maybe it was a long line at the grocery store, a rude comment from someone, or a traffic jam that made you late for an appointment. These things can be frustrating, but they’re also minor and temporary. They’re not worth letting ruin your day or your life.
Now think about the times when you’ve let go of the small things and focused on what truly matters. Maybe you took a deep breath and counted to ten, or perhaps you called a friend and talked about something that made you happy. These moments of mindfulness and gratitude are what make life worth living.
Make a change. Stop letting the small things get to you. Focus on what’s important and live your life to the fullest. It’s not always easy, but it’s always worth it.
As human beings, we often fall into the trap of letting the small things in life control our emotions and thoughts. We allow them to consume us, and before we know it, we dwell on something that doesn’t even matter in the grand scheme of things. But what if we could change that? What if we could learn to see these small things for what they are and let them go?
Mindfulness
One way to do this is by practising mindfulness. Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment without judgment. When we are mindful, we can see things for what they are without getting caught up in our emotions and thoughts. This can be a powerful tool for letting go of the small things that upset us.
In everyday life it can be very simple. You are standing in that long line at the grocery store and you feel the irritation rising. Instead of following it, you feel your feet on the floor, you let your shoulders drop, and you take three slow breaths. The line is just as long, but you are no longer fighting it. With regular practice this becomes easier, and people who practise often find they are calmer and kinder to themselves as well. If you’d like to try, you’ll find simple exercises in Breathe your way to mindfulness, and answers to the most common questions in my 18 FAQs on mindfulness.
Gratitude
Another way to let go of the small things is by embracing gratitude. Gratitude is appreciating what we have rather than focusing on what we don’t have. We can see the positive things in our lives when we’re grateful, even when things aren’t going well. This helps us put things into perspective and see that the small things that upset us aren’t as important as we once thought.
You can start tonight. Before you go to sleep, name three things from your day that you are thankful for, however ordinary: a good meal, a message from a friend, ten quiet minutes in the garden. People who make a habit of this tend to feel more content and less weighed down by worry. I describe how it changes the way you see your days in From frustration to fulfillment, and saying thank you out loud to the people around you does even more, as I explain in The benefits of expressing appreciation.
There is an old saying that worrying is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.
Life is too short to be little. So, make this change today. You have the power to choose how you react to the things that happen in your life, and you have the power to focus on what truly matters. By practising mindfulness and embracing gratitude, you can learn to let go of the small things and live your life to the fullest. Start focusing on what truly matters, and never let the small stuff hinder your happiness and success.
Remember, life is not a race to a finish line. Enjoy the small pleasures, never forget what truly matters, and welcome each day with open arms.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop small things from upsetting me?
Start by noticing the moment it happens. Take a slow breath, and ask yourself whether this will still matter next week. Most of the time the answer is no, and that question alone takes much of the heat out of it.
Why do little things bother me so much?
Usually because you are tired, hungry, rushed or already carrying a lot. The small thing is rarely the real cause, it is simply the last drop. Looking after your sleep, your meals and your breaks makes you far less easy to upset.
How can I practise gratitude when I am having a bad day?
Keep it very small. Name three things that went well today, even tiny ones: a warm cup of tea, a kind word, the sun on your face. You don’t have to feel cheerful to do it, you only have to look.
When should I talk to my doctor?
If you feel irritable, anxious or low most days, if you sleep badly for weeks, or if worry stops you from enjoying your life, please talk to your doctor. That is more than small things, and you deserve proper support.
Would you like some help?
Learning to stay calm when the small things pile up, and looking after the sleep, meals and breaks that make it possible, is one of the things we work on in my group programmes in nutrition and health, such as Six Tuesdays in Montignac. If you’d like to hear when the next group opens, write to me at hello@catherinepolet.coach.
Would you rather work one to one? I also coach online. Book a free 20-minute call, and tell me what you would love to have more time and energy for. That’s where we’ll begin.
About Catherine
I’m Catherine Polet, a holistic nutrition health coach, yoga and autogenic training teacher for more than 30 years, author and speaker. I help people find a way of eating and living that suits their own body, online in English, French, Spanish and German, and in person in Southwest France.
