Hey r/booksuggestions,
Been struggling with the classic cycle: set huge goals -> feel overwhelmed -> procrastinate -> feel like a failure. Rinse, repeat. It's exhausting.
I recently picked up "Tiny Experiments: How to Live Freely in a Goal-Obsessed World" by Anne-Laure Le Cunff, and it’s offering a genuinely different, more humane perspective.
The Core Shift:
Instead of chasing massive, rigid outcomes, it’s about embracing systematic curiosity through small, defined "Pacts" – like "I will [action] for [short duration]." The profound part for me is realizing that the process of these tiny experiments, and the learning that comes from them, is the path. There's no grand, pre-defined finish line you have to see from the start.
The Workflow in a Nutshell:
It’s a cycle:
- Make a small Pact (commit to curiosity).
- Act on it mindfully (focus on the doing, embrace imperfection).
- React by reflecting (what worked, what didn't? Persist, pause, or pivot?).
- Let your Impact (and next steps) grow organically from this.
Honestly, it feels liberating. The pressure to achieve some monumental thing right now is lessened. It’s more about showing up for these small curiosities and trusting that a meaningful direction will emerge. It’s a gentler, more sustainable approach to self-improvement than the all-or-nothing mindset I’ve been stuck in. It's giving me permission to be imperfect and learn as I go.
Anyone else explored this idea of "tiny experiments"? If not, how do you generally cultivate progress when the end isn't always clear? Really curious to know.
TL;DR: "Tiny Experiments" by Anne-Laure Le Cunff advocates for small, curiosity-driven "Pacts" over huge goals. Trying it for my procrastination. Feels liberating and less overwhelming. Looking for others on similar paths.
by evonshahriar