Never Underestimate the Small Things

Perhaps more is happening in your life than you realise.

Lately, I've found myself thinking about what comes next in my life.

It's interesting how easily that question can occupy our thoughts. Even when things are going well, there's often another goal, another possibility, another chapter we're thinking about.

But recently, I've found myself looking at my journey a little differently. I've always been grateful for where I am, but I'm beginning to appreciate the journey itself in a whole new light.

I'm seeing how the decisions I've made, the challenges I've navigated, the opportunities I've embraced and even the seemingly ordinary moments have all played a part in shaping who I am today.

And that journey is still unfolding.

I'm realising that the steps I'm taking today are not simply moving me towards whatever comes next. They are also contributing to the person I'm continuing to become.

Perhaps we underestimate the significance of the small things because we're so focused on waiting for the big things to happen.

When progress doesn't look like progress

A few weeks ago, I was speaking with someone who had spent the past year building her business.

She was feeling anxious because, despite all her efforts, the business wasn't yet generating the financial returns she had hoped for.

I understood her frustration. When you've invested so much into something, you naturally want to see results. And when they don't come, it's easy to question whether you're making progress at all.

Then she called me unexpectedly this week.

She had secured a contract!

But what stayed with me wasn't simply her excitement. It was how she began reflecting on everything that had happened over the previous months.

The conversations, preparations and little steps that hadn't seemed particularly significant at the time.

She could now see how some of those experiences had contributed to this opportunity.

What struck me was that those little steps hadn't suddenly become valuable because she secured the contract. They had been contributing to her journey all along. She could simply see their significance more clearly now.

How often do we dismiss the progress we're making simply because it doesn't yet look like the outcome we're hoping for?

What are we overlooking along the way?

Looking back at the earlier years of building my career, I remember the long journeys to work and the periods when I lived away from home.

At the time, much of my attention was on working, developing my career and moving forward.

Now I sometimes wonder whether I could have made more of those experiences. Explored the places I visited, appreciated the opportunities around me or simply been more present.

Even today, when I travel for work, I enjoy seeing new places. But I'm becoming more intentional about appreciating those opportunities, even when work makes it difficult.

It's not about regretting the past.

It's about recognising that life is happening while we're working towards the next thing.

And perhaps some of what we're hoping to gain in the future is already being developed through our present experiences.

The knowledge we're acquiring. The relationships we're building. The confidence that comes from navigating unfamiliar situations.

These things may not always feel like progress.

But they matter.

What I'm learning

One thing I'm becoming more aware of is that the journey doesn't just take us somewhere. It also shapes us.

When I look back over my journey, I'm recognising more deeply how the experiences I've had, the decisions I've made and even the challenges I've faced have contributed to the qualities I carry today.

And I'm learning that this process of becoming doesn't stop. Every season continues to shape us.

My coaching journey is a good example.

I believe this is something God has called me to do. Yet I cannot tell you exactly where it will lead or what every next step will look like.

There are still questions I'm working through.

But I'm learning to keep showing up, developing my skills, gaining experience and trusting that greater clarity will come as I move forward.

That doesn't mean abandoning ambition or planning.

It means recognising that I can be intentional about my future without becoming so consumed by it that I overlook the value of today.

One step at a time

There's a scripture that has been coming to mind as I've reflected on this.

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." — Psalms 119:105 (NIV)

I love the picture of a lamp lighting the path before us.

It reminds me that I don't always need to see the entire journey to respond to the light I have today.

It's a little like following a sat nav.

You know your destination, but you navigate the journey one direction at a time. And when you miss a turning, the sat nav recalculates, finding another route to your destination.

I'm learning that life can be like that too.

We make choices, learn, adjust and continue. Not every step will go according to plan, and sometimes, as we grow, we may even discover that our destination needs to change.

But that doesn't make the steps we've already taken meaningless.

Sometimes the next step is clear. Sometimes we need to pause, reflect or seek guidance.

But while we're figuring out what comes next, we don't have to stop valuing what's already in front of us.

A small step this week

Perhaps this week, instead of focusing only on what you haven't achieved, take a moment to recognise where you are.

Think about something you've been working towards or a season that has felt slower than expected.

What has it taught you? What qualities have you developed? What signs of progress might you have overlooked?

You may discover that more has been happening than you realised.

Pause & Reflect

What are you overlooking about your present season because you're so focused on where you want to be?

And as you recognise the value of where you are, ask yourself:

What is the next meaningful step I can take with what I know today?

My prayer for you

Lord, I pray for the person reading this today. Where they feel anxious about the future, grant them peace. Where they feel discouraged by slow progress, help them recognise the value of what they are learning and becoming. Give them wisdom for the decisions before them, gratitude for the present and courage to take the next step, trusting you to guide their path. Amen.

Confidence Mantra

I value where I am, recognise how far I've come and trust God to guide my next step.

If this reflection has stirred something in you, perhaps it's worth giving yourself space to explore it more deeply. Sometimes a thoughtful conversation helps us begin seeing our journey differently.

Where you are today is not without value simply because you're still on your way somewhere else.

You are born to shine.

I. Arise & Shine | iarisenshine.com