There’s actually a book called ‘Don’t sweat the small stuff’. I haven’t read it but it’s a term which often crops up in a supposed desirable way of being. I remember a few years ago coming out of a relationship. It had been lovely in parts but ultimately wasn’t right long term. I had a chat with a mentor and I said something in reference to giving the benefit of the doubt (I guess similar to dont sweat the small stuff as an idea). Her view was to always blow up what are seemingly small things particularly at the start of a relationship in order to see what may or may not be issues later on. It’s obviously important to not be super stringent or like a controlling parent ultimately but I could see her point that at the start of a relationship when people can fall hard and fast in love really being aware of things which may become issues further down the line. This attitude can possibly stop or make less likely potential heartbreak.

It was later then in other contexts I seemed to see the idea repeating itself. At a spiritual development group they spoke a lot about Gandhi as a leader and principles which were kept in place as a foundation which actually got more and more specific. He reportedly didn’t speak on Sunday (a vowed day of silence). Reportedly once someone came in to where he was frantically telling him about something that was occuring to which his response was to put his finger to his lips and say ‘shhhhhh’. He wasn’t going to move on his principle. He also dressed in greater and greater simplicity to the point of only wearing a white robe which was in fact made by him.

I then happened to read the same type of thing in a book about Steve Jobs and how he had an insistence on Apple warehouses being all white and being kept in a spotless condition. Similarly his insistence on the inside of a computer being meticulous in how they looked with zero crookedness. The rational was that this was all the source of what was ultimately being done.

The idea this raises for me is one of discipline. Of getting the small stuff right then this being the centre point to spread out to the rest of life. In reflecting on me I can see how I’ve been messy at points and am doing more work now just leaning into this lesson and seeing how it plays out for me and how it plays into looking to work to maximum success and fulfillment. It’s great to see how great minds may do thing and to keep reflecting on yourself and how it all fits.