How Can Small Moments Change Your Life?

TL;DR

One small childhood choice can redirect an entire life: Jenna Kutcher's family spent their few hundred dollars on a road trip to the Wisconsin Dells instead of a bagger for the lawnmower, a seemingly minor moment that changed her trajectory. In her book "How Are You, Really?", she argues our lives are compiled of tiny decisions that add up to huge changes, and that asking whether you truly love your life leads to happiness. Read on for how choosing moments over things reshapes who we become.

Transcript

I think we have been stretched as a culture and as a world consistently for the last few years and in being stretched I think we've kind of stopped asking ourselves the question how am I do I love my life am I faking that I'm enjoying it does my life online look great but my life offline feel awful do I need to change and this book is that invitati... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 Our lives are composed of small moments and decisions that, when reflected upon, can lead to significant changes.
• 👔 Pursuing passion should not be solely tied to monetization; it can also be a form of personal growth and fulfillment.
• ❓ It's important to recognize and address burnout in entrepreneurship and prioritize personal well-being over constantly striving for more.
• 📶 Asking for help is a sign of strength and can lead to improved connections and support.
• 🤯 Challenging the status quo and changing our minds is a natural part of growth and self-discovery.
• 🥺 Reflection and self-questioning can lead to a more authentic and fulfilling life.
• 🛟 Small decisions and moments can shape our career trajectories and influence the direction of our lives.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can small moments change your life?

Jenna Kutcher explains that our lives are compiled of tiny little moments and small decisions that, when we look back, add up to huge changes. She points to moments we can all trace back that seemed minor but literally changed the trajectory of everything, like her family's choice to take a road trip instead of buying a lawnmower attachment.

Q: How did choosing a family vacation over a lawnmower bagger shape Jenna Kutcher?

Growing up, her parents didn't have a lot of money and had a few hundred dollars to spend on either a bagger for the lawnmower or a family road trip to the Wisconsin Dells. They chose the vacation, and the pool at the motel became a significant moment for her. She describes it as a seemingly small choice that changed the trajectory of everything.

Q: What is Jenna Kutcher's book "How Are You, Really?" about?

The book is an invitation to come back to your truth, living your truth one answer at a time. It grew out of the observation that as a culture we've stopped asking ourselves whether we love our lives, or whether our life looks great online but feels awful offline. It centers on how asking the right questions in key moments can lead to a life of happiness and satisfaction.

Q: Why did Jenna Kutcher resist writing a book?

For years she said with the utmost confidence that she would never write a book. Even though she had written blogs and Instagram captions for over two decades, she felt a book was a whole new ball game and threw up more obstacles in her own way. When she finally did it, she was surprised to find she enjoyed the process a lot.

Q: What did Jenna Kutcher learn from the editing and waiting process?

She found that in a digital era where we create something, post it, and get instant feedback, simply sitting with her work was very uncomfortable at first. But she saw so much beauty in watching it get better and better, and realized "this is why we wait on certain things." She came to appreciate the time it took to refine the book.

Q: How does Jenna Kutcher deal with the fear of contradicting herself?

She had to come to terms with the fact that she will contradict herself over time. She frames the book as "here's what I know so far" as a student of life, acknowledging that she may not think the same thing ten years from now. As she puts it, that doesn't matter because it's her highest truth of the moment.

Q: What does "choosing moments over things" mean?

It's a chapter in her book about claiming moments rather than accumulating possessions. Kutcher notes that in today's culture we get boxes shipped to us every day and things become novelty items until they aren't two minutes later. She contrasts that with moments we can trace back and hold onto, which often have lasting impact.

Q: Who is Jenna Kutcher?

Jenna Kutcher is a born-and-raised Minnesota wife, mother, and entrepreneur who aims daily to help others wake up to life while staying in comfy pants. She is the creator and host of the top-rated Gold Digger podcast and has helped thousands redefine success and chase bold dreams. She is also the author of the book "How Are You, Really?"

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Jenna Kutcher emphasizes the importance of living authentically and questioning our satisfaction with life.

• She shares personal stories about how seemingly small moments can have a profound impact on our paths and happiness.

• Kutcher discusses the challenges of pursuing her passions, including writing a book and overcoming self-doubt.