"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with the first step" - Lao Tzu
When trying to better ourselves in any endeavour, it's easy to focus on what we're not doing. It's easy to obsess on the fact that we just don't feel we're good enough. We don't feel we know enough. Or we didn't start early enough to get good.
This is the pressure most of us put ourselves under. We berate ourselves. We beat ourselves up for not being what we could be, for not being motivated enough, for not moving quickly enough.
In short, we are often our own worst enemy.
Focus on the Process
What if we focused on just putting one foot in front of the other instead? What if we just focused on the process of getting started?
Momentum can be a wonderful thing but we have to get started to allow it a chance to appear. We have to get out of our self-imposed blocks and get moving.
There are many paths and potential choices available to us, we have to pick one and commit to it. If that doesn't work, we can change course or start afresh and choose another path completely.
There is a power and responsibility in making a choice. Not all of us find it easy to decide. But choose we must and there is comfort in knowing that making a choice commits us to action. Action leads us to a first step in a certain direction. We can correct our course from there.
Fear Holds Us Back
We grow through the mistakes we make in life as well as through our achievements. Mistakes made often drive us to new levels of learning and/or understanding. If that's the case maybe we shouldn't be afraid of making mistakes in the first place.
Fear can hold us back from taking our first steps to something new. Our inner voice tells us safe and comfortable is the way to go, why rock the boat by doing something new. Why take the risk?
The truth is, none of us have crystal balls. If we don't take the plunge occasionally and face some of our fears, in some small way, there's no way of knowing where life may lead us and how much we might be able achieve and experience.
We can acknowledge our fears without letting them get in our way.
The Power of Small Steps
Small steps soon add up. One step leads to another. Many steps lead to many more and soon we are flying.
The tallest of buildings start with a drawing.
The largest of companies start from humble beginnings.
The greatest of achievements start from an idea.
And the longest and most rewarding journeys all start with a single step.
Commit to taking that first tentative step. It's often the hardest step of all.
Carl writes short books full of big ideas. He is also the proud owner of Frictionless Living which is focused on helping readers find and live their own version of a simpler, good life.