The Power of One

There is strength in numbers. That is a tried-and-true cliché that rallies the masses when there is a need for unity. When there is a common enemy. Or when it's movie night and the kids out-vote you into watching some sight joke comedy instead of the mystery thriller you had your heart set on.

Yeah, there is strength in numbers. All numbers. Even the number one. Sometimes especially the number one. One more dessert may put on one more pound. One more snarky, unkind remark may ruin one more friendship. One is a powerful number when it is considered from the right perspective. So, to borrow one more cliché, how do we use its power for good?

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I learned about the power of one when I started researching Feng Shui, the art of arranging your living space to better suit your energy. One of its most basic tenets is that the area you are focusing on needs to be clutter-free. With very little research, I was able to find ideas for tackling junk drawers, junk spaces, and junk rooms, so that I could complete the first step to becoming successful and balanced. It turns out that holding on to objects for sentimental reasons, psychological reasons, or just plain laziness is a real issue and there are tons of gurus out there who are willing to share their ideas and experiences for solving it.

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The one practice that stuck with me the most was the one a day rule. So, for example, if you wanted to clean out your closet, but were having trouble getting motivated, you would focus on removing just one item each day. In that scenario, you may look and touch more than one item—the boot cut jeans you're sure you'll lose enough weight to fit in again when they come back in style (keep those!), that slutty halter top you'll for sure need during your mid-life crisis (Never let go of the glory days!), and the gauchos that weren't cute even when they were cute (Toss!).

The general idea is that it might take longer to get the task completed, but it would eventually get done in a way that does not have to feel overwhelming. For some, like hoarders or sentimental types, that could be a less painful solution to the situation. But for others, once we pull that first item and we see that empty space, a little pocket of energy opens up and motivates us to pull one more. And one more. And one more, until we finish. We may do it in one sitting, or we may find ourselves donating two or three items from the closet each day. But if we allow ourselves to feel what happens when that space opens up, our energy flows more easily, and goals are reached a little faster. That first good feeling morphs into intention, then accomplishment. And sometimes, it leads to conquering another project, because who doesn't want to ride that good feeling wave?

The same principle applies to anything you are working on. It could be weight loss. Do one exercise, one set a day. You'll burn more calories than if you did none. It could be money. Find a way to earn one extra dollar a day. Or put one dollar a day in a separate account and watch it grow. 

For me, it is very often my writing. Even though I create blogs and website content for other companies, there are days when my time is limited or I'm not feeling super creative. My deadlines don't care if I am overwhelmed with work. They don't care if I have a cold and the only remedy is watching the entire last season of Ozark. They don't care if I'd rather be working on one of my novels or posting on my own blog. While I'm sitting on the beach. With a cooler of beer next to me. My bills don't care either. And those bills don't come in ones, they arrive in packs.

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Especially on days like that, when life and ego and dreams want to one-up responsibility, the power of one is the only way to keep me on track. Write one pithy paragraph. Polish and edit one manuscript page. Research and find one interesting fact about dental implants and type it up. 

I fool myself into thinking that the one task will be it, but I know who I am. I am a joy junkie. Yeah, I said it. And after that first initial burst of accomplishment hits me right in the creative cortex, the overachiever in me will hunt for more joy. Before I know it, and in the same sitting, one paragraph turns into one more paragraph, one more page, one task checked off, one short break before I decide to start one more project.

My one ask is that you take one chance: Figure out a manageable goal for the day. Factor in your present state of mind. Consider what will make you feel good, like a boss, like you are working toward something bigger. So that you do your best work. So that you reach your daily goal, and ultimately, your final project goal. Allow yourself to bask in the feeling that you moved one item, or you moved one hundred items. Let the power of one become a valuable, life-altering tool.

Action creates motivation. Not the other way around. If we were to depend on our current level of motivation, the only thing we'd conquer is a box of Ring Dings, or the next digital zombie apocalypse. 

If we apply the same level of drive that we use for binge watching Netflix series to reaching a personal goal, imagine what we can achieve. It takes just one thought and one move in the right direction. Don't let one more day go by or feel one more regret. It may not be just your one short and precious life that is affected.

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I usually end my posts with a snarky one liner of my own creation, but this time I'd like to share a joke. I do not know who the author is, so I can't give the proper credit, but here goes:

At a motivational seminar, three men are beckoned to the stage. They are all asked, "When you are in your casket and friends and family are mourning, what would you like to hear them say about you? 

The first guy says, "I would like to hear them say that I was a great scientist of my time. That the one discovery I made changed the health of so many."

The second guy says, "I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and a schoolteacher whose one goal each day was to make a huge difference in our children of tomorrow."

The last guy replies, "I would like to hear them say...LOOK!!! HE'S MOVING!!!"

Be the one who moves in his casket.

 

CF Winn is the award-winning author of The COFFEE BREAK SERIES, a quirky group of short stories meant to be read while on break or in the waiting room of the doctor’s office. Her first novella, SUKI, has been grabbing hearts and hugging souls all over the United States.  The sequel, WHEN DWAYNE DIED, is coming soon.

The BOOKLIFE PRIZE (a division of Publisher's Weekly) describes CF WINN's MOORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: "This novel is a unique and original storyline that readers will likely find much enjoyment in. Winn's fiercely plotted storyline makes for a suspenseful read. Every plot point feels as if it is being revealed at precisely the right moment. Winn's word choice makes for a joyful ride through unexpectedly dark terrain."

You can now order SUKI in paperback at BOOK REVUE, one of the nation’s largest independent bookstores, by emailing info@bookrevue.com 

Her blogs have been syndicated on multiple sites including The Masquerade Crew. More posts like these can be found at Humor Outcasts and The Patch where she is a regular contributor.  

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