I’ve been DIY-ing (Do It Yourself’n) and I Be Celebratin! You can do it for yourself too!

Today I’m feeling smug.  I did something little but BIG just the same.

You see, the toilet broke.  And I fixed it.  Me.  All by myself.  No biggie. It was a simple part that broke and needed to be replaced. (LOL yet?)  As Elton John sings in Your Song: “I know it’s not much…”

Quite the contrary, it IS a BIG thing.  Upon seeing that the problem wouldn’t be solved by a simple jiggle of the handle, and that there was a broken part, I realized “Ain’t nobody here but you, so what are you going to do about it?”  Well, off to the store I went.  And once there, after much good discussion with the Home Depot Guy about the myriad of parts available, I bought the “right one” and headed home, got it installed and ta-da!  It’s fixed.  And I did it.  Me.  All by myself. Uh huh.

Whatta ya know?!  Actually, what I know is this:  I’ve been tackling many “little” things that need some sort of fixing and I’ve been getting them (finally) done.

Once a small win has been accomplished, forces are set in motion that favor another small win. When a solution is put in place, the next solvable problem often becomes more visible. …which means that slightly larger wins can be attempted.

— Karl Weick

Now, just to prove I’m the gal in charge, I’m gonna replace that probably-about-to-fail part in the other two toilets – I’m going to get a-head of the problem… (Smirk.)  And then?  Well, according to the Center for Applied Research, Weick gives two meanings to the term “small wins”:

One [is] the small win as a quick hit or easy victory. The other, however, is based on the continuous application of a small advantage. … The small advantage steadily applied where it can have the greatest impact “improves the odds.”

My small advantage will be this: I “get” the idea that “If it’s to be it’s up to me.”  And I have a long list of “small win” candidates just waiting to be impacted.

Doing It Easy

I expect my newly minted and steadily applied DIY-identity will “improve the odds” in other arenas besides household maintenance.   For instance, there’s this important skill/task I need and want to master, but I’ve intimidated myself with everything that could go wrong.  And as much as I long to see it through to completion, I simultaneously recoil from actually doing it – I KNOW my efforts will end in chaos and disaster.  PattiAnn’s commentary about Faith and Doubt really comes into play here.

But just recently, my friend JD did what I need to be doing: he did it casually, with a natural grace and without fanfare.  Watching him at work, I realized “He makes it look EASY.”  I began to realize that while my own task might be a bit more complicated than his, I was making mountains out of molehills.  And with that change of mindset, I’m envisioning myself doing the task successfully in spite of the anticipated and historical complications that may (or may not) rear their ugly heads.

I have a model for “doing it easy” – thanks JD!  Now, instead of looking for excuses, I’m looking for instructions and teachers.  More wisdom dawning: As I forge ahead into this easy doing of “scary” deeds, it also helps to remember to either find or invent a reason – a motivator that pulls me forward into the unknown.  And, once again, to remember to “shush” my inner critics.  (Hush little baby, don’t say a word… ) And keep looking for the easy way of doing things.

Business coach, Karen Hodges, shares three good reasons to celebrate wins:

• Celebrating the win serves as a reminder that a good, focused goal works.
• Celebrating gives an energy boost of motivation to continue delivering outstanding work.
• Celebrating creates an opportunity to look at the big picture.

I’m not done yet. (Are we ever?)  Soon I’ll be celebrating another little/BIG victory.

If you feel an urge to celebrate something small, don’t let that pass you by. It may seem small, but your heart is telling you it’s really important. Even if it’s not substantial by itself… [it] could be as a part of what’s to come.

— Torley

I’ve been DIY-ing and I be celebratin!  Do the same for yourself!