Saturday Real Talk
Why Do We Talk Ourselves Out of the Little Things?

Today I watched Preach, Pray, Love. I enjoyed it. It was simple, but what stayed with me was how life changes and how an intentional shift can lead to something good.

Then I found myself thinking about my own intentions.

I have been telling myself I need to do some straightening up. And then, just as quickly, I talk myself out of it. 🤣

Now, my physical limitations are real. I hurt every day. Some things take more out of me than people would ever imagine.

But let me be honest about myself: sometimes I use those limitations as an excuse not to commit to the little things I believe I can manage.

Do I feel up to it? Of course not.

But I also know I can approach a task in smaller pieces, work within my abilities and take breaks. Everything does not have to get done at once.

And that got me thinking about something that goes beyond my hips or a little straightening up.

Where in your life do you struggle to follow through on the simple, small tasks?

Maybe it’s returning a phone call. Sorting the papers you keep moving from one spot to another. Scheduling an appointment. Answering a message. Putting away the few things you walked past three times today.

We tell ourselves, “I’ll get to it.”

And sometimes we spend more time thinking about it, avoiding it and explaining why we haven’t done it than we would spend taking the first step.

Now, small does not mean easy for everybody. What takes one person a few minutes might require a whole lot of energy, support or planning for someone else. We each have to be honest about our own capacity.

I’m looking at mine.

I know when I need rest. I also know there are moments when I start negotiating with myself because I simply don’t want to do something.

That’s the conversation I’m having today.

Have I made this task manageable for myself—and am I willing to follow through on that small commitment?

Maybe today’s commitment is five minutes. Maybe it’s one item, one call or one corner of a table.

Can I allow that to count without immediately looking at everything else that still needs doing?

Because I can overwhelm myself before I even begin. I look at the whole room when all I intended to do was put a few things away. Suddenly, my little task has turned into a whole production, and I have talked myself right back into sitting there. 🤓🤣

Today, I’m challenging myself to choose one manageable thing and give it my attention.

Then I can decide what I have the capacity for next.

So, let’s be real with ourselves:

What is that little thing you keep saying you’re going to do? And what would help you follow through today?

🌻 Real Talk with Lady Flava 🌻