A Companion for Tiny Experiments

Personal growth doesn’t have to follow a rigid plan. In fact, systematically trying things out – what I call tiny experiments – can be far more sustainable and rewarding. Writing fits perfectly into this kind of experimental practice and can support you at every stage:

  1. PACT: Make a pact with yourself grounded in curiosity. You don’t need a detailed plan, just a simple commitment to explore something that feels alive: “I will [action] for [duration].” Writing it down, whether in a journal, a note to a friend, or a public post, gives form to your intention and creates a gentle incentive for showing up and completing the experiment.
  2. ACT: It’s easy to focus solely on execution and forget to capture what’s happening. Writing while you carry out your tiny experiment – such as capturing quick notes or logging thoughts as they emerge – can help you stay connected without the pressure to perform.
  3. REACT: Once the experiment is complete, reflection is where learning happens. Writing helps you process the experience and make sense of what worked, what didn’t, and what you might want to try next (for example with the Plus Minus Next method).
  4. IMPACT: Over time, your tiny experiments might lead to something bigger. Whether you’re building a product, launching a project, or simply sharing what you’ve learned – writing helps you consolidate your insights and share them with others in a generative way.

Writing helps you stay engaged, deepen your learning, and notice the invisible threads that tie your experiments together. It’s a low-cost, high-value companion for personal experimentation.

Tagging this process as a follow up to my discussion around exposure > process > distill > repurpose flow that I outlined to how our brain “thinks.” 

This specific post is one that posits how the process of writing helps our brain rewire itself. It starts with a delightful quote that I just adore:

As Anaïs Nin would say: “We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect.” Whether you’re trying to make sense of a situation, come up with new ideas, stay consistent with your practices, or reflect on what’s working and what’s not – writing can support you every step of the way.

We write to taste life twice, in the moment and in retrospect. So pithy, so charming, so delightful.