Small But Strong

I used to think the only way to grow was to go big.

You know what I mean—quit your job, start over, move to a new city, cut your hair, get a journal, hit the gym every morning at 5 a.m., eat nothing but green things, and suddenly become “that person” who has it all figured out.

Yeah… I tried that.

Guess how long it lasted?

About two weeks. Okay, maybe ten days. Let’s not lie to each other.

The truth?

Change didn’t come from the loud stuff. Not for me.

It didn’t arrive wrapped in fireworks or glowing affirmations or Instagrammable routines.

It came quietly.

In the tiniest of things.

The kind of things most people overlook—I overlooked.

But those small acts?

They were stronger than I ever gave them credit for.

🌿 1. Making My Bed (and Not Rolling My Eyes About It)

I know. It sounds like the most cliché advice on the planet. But listen…

There was a morning—nothing special, nothing dramatic—when I made my bed.

No music playing. No motivational speech in the background.

Just me and the comforter.

It took 45 seconds.

And for some reason, I felt… together.

Like I had a little control. A sliver of peace. Like, “Okay, maybe today won’t be a total dumpster fire.”

Did it fix my life? No.

Did it help me feel like I could start the day a little more grounded? Yeah. Weirdly, yeah.

🧠 2. Changing How I Spoke to Myself (Slowly, Clumsily)

You know that voice in your head?

The one that says:

“You’re so behind.”

“Why are you still like this?”

“Everyone else is doing better.”

Yeah, that one? Mine was a jerk.

For years, I just… let it talk.

Uninterrupted.

Unchecked.

But then one day, I caught myself mid-thought and said—out loud, mind you—“Stop. That’s not helping.”

That tiny pause? That was everything.

Now, I try to replace it.

Not with cheesy fake positivity. Just something gentler.

Like:

“I’m doing the best I can.”

“This is hard, but I’m trying.”

“One step at a time.”

Some days it works. Some days it doesn’t. But even trying is powerful.

💧 3. Drinking Water Like It’s a Love Language

Okay, I know—this one feels ridiculous.

But honestly? I was treating water like an afterthought.

I’d go half the day on coffee and chaos, then wonder why I had a headache and hated the world.

Then I bought a decent water bottle (one that didn’t leak and didn’t annoy me) and made a quiet decision:

Drink. The. Damn. Water.

Not as a chore. As a gift to my body.

It helped. Way more than I expected.

Sometimes we search for big healing when what we need is hydration, rest, and grace.

✋ 4. Saying No Without a Novel-Length Excuse

Here’s a wild thought:

You can say no… and not justify it.

I used to over-explain everything.

“Sorry I can’t make it—work’s been crazy, and I haven’t slept, and I think I might be getting sick, and—”

No.

Just:

“I can’t tonight, but thank you for inviting me.”

No guilt. No story. No fake cough.

Learning to say no, clean and clear, gave me time.

Energy.

And, yeah—boundaries I didn’t even realize I needed.

🕊️ 5. Letting Go of All-Or-Nothing Thinking

If I couldn’t do it perfectly, I wouldn’t do it at all.

That was my rule.

And it ruined me.

If I missed one day of journaling, I’d stop for months.

If I didn’t work out “properly,” I wouldn’t even walk.

If I ate one “bad” meal, I’d spiral.

It was exhausting.

Now?

I do one push-up and call it movement.

I write three words and call it journaling.

I eat a salad and a cookie and don’t assign morality to either.

Progress is not perfection.

It’s just… movement. Even if it’s slow. Even if it’s wobbly.

Especially then.

🤍 What I Didn’t Expect to Learn

I used to think strength looked like hustle. Power poses. Intensity.

But real strength?

It’s quiet.

It’s choosing to keep going on a random Thursday when nothing feels magical or motivated.

It’s drinking water and making your bed and saying no and trying again tomorrow, even when you feel like crap today.

Small doesn’t mean weak.

Small means sustainable.

And sustainable is what saves you.

Over time. Bit by bit. Inch by inch.

💭 So… What’s One Small Thing You Can Do Today?

Not next week.

Not after you “figure your life out.”

Not when Mercury’s out of retrograde.

Today.

Make your bed.

Say no.

Drink water.

Text a friend.

Take three deep breaths.

It might not feel like a breakthrough.

But it’s a beginning.

And sometimes… beginnings are disguised as tiny things.

💬 Final Thought

If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to change, to heal, to grow…

Don’t.

Start small.

Stay consistent.

Be kind to yourself.

Small. But strong. That’s where the real magic lives.

🫶 If this hit somewhere deep:

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We don’t have to be loud to be powerful.

We just have to start.

Together. 🌱