Man, I remember when I first bumped into I Ching Hexagram 62, “Preponderance of the Small.” It felt like a smack in the face, but in a good way, you know? I was at a point where I was trying to tackle these huge goals, these big, grand plans, and everything just kept crumbling. Like building a house, starting with the roof and skipping the foundation.
I was flipping through this old I Ching book I’d picked up years ago, gathering dust, and this hexagram just popped out. It talked about paying attention to the small things, the details, not overreaching. My first thought was, “Great, more stuff to worry about.” But then I started to actually read into it, not just skim, and it began to click.
My First Dive into the “Small”
I figured, alright, if this ancient wisdom is telling me to master the little things, let’s try it. I wasn’t doing anything big or fancy; I just started with my own damn routine. I used to just throw my keys anywhere when I got home, and then spend five minutes every morning hunting them down. A tiny thing, right? But it was a daily annoyance.
- I committed to putting my keys on the hook by the door. Every single time.
- I started making my bed every morning. Used to think it was a waste of time, I was just gonna mess it up again.
- I began actually planning my next day’s tasks, even just three small ones, before I shut down my computer. No more “winging it.”
These were ridiculously small shifts. Almost embarrassing to even write down. But man, the difference they started to make was subtle, yet profound. I wasn’t losing my keys anymore. My bedroom felt less chaotic. I woke up with a clearer idea of what needed doing, instead of that brain-fogged scramble.
Hitting the Snags and Pushing Through
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were days I just forgot. I’d come home exhausted, toss the keys on the counter, and then kick myself in the morning. Or I’d look at my messy bed and think, “Ugh, five more minutes of sleep is better.” The temptation to slide back into old habits was strong. It felt insignificant to keep up with these tiny actions.
The I Ching text kept coming back to me, though. It talks about “birds flying,” “leaving their traces.” It’s about consistency, even if the progress looks minute. So, I pushed through. I didn’t beat myself up for slipping; I just started over the next day. It wasn’t about being perfect; it was about the continuous effort, the intent to master these little bits.
Expanding the “Small” Concept
Once I got a handle on my personal habits, I started looking at bigger areas. My work, for example. I’m not gonna lie, I used to love diving into the big, flashy parts of a project, leaving the documentation, the small bug fixes, the detailed communications till last. And then, surprise, surprise, things would unravel.
Applying Hexagram 62 there meant a total mindset flip. Instead of seeing those detailed reports or meticulous code reviews as tedious chores, I started treating them as crucial steps. Like, really crucial.
- I started double-checking every email before hitting send, especially client-facing ones, for typos or unclear wording.
- I made sure my code comments were clear, even for simple functions.
- I began regularly reviewing my to-do list, not just adding to it, but actually prioritizing and breaking down bigger tasks into smaller, manageable chunks.
It was like I was building my own internal checklist for quality. Every tiny interaction, every tiny piece of work, became an opportunity to execute with care. It wasn’t about rushing to the finish line; it was about ensuring each step was solid.
The Unexpected Payoff
What happened? Honestly, it was a slow burn, not some overnight miracle. But gradually, things just… improved. My projects started running smoother. Fewer last-minute scrambles. My teammates actually started appreciating the clarity in my communication and my organized approach. I even got a raise a few months later, and my manager explicitly mentioned my “attention to detail.”
It wasn’t about me suddenly becoming a genius or developing some new skill. It was literally about taking everything I already did and just doing it a little bit better, with more thought, more presence. The small things, stacked up, created a massive foundation that could hold bigger and bigger efforts. It taught me that real mastery isn’t about the grand gestures; it’s about the relentless, often unglamorous, pursuit of excellence in the everyday. It’s about valuing the journey as much as the destination, focusing on each step because that’s where you actually live.
