Getting Started

Sometimes, just getting started is hard. You have an idea of what you want to do and, suddenly, your mind is filled with details and tasks and reasons why it’s just too much work. You feel overwhelmed and are already exhausted by just thinking of what you believe you need to do. So, you put the idea out of your head. But it keeps coming back and coming back and coming back until, finally, you realize that this is something you need to do; that this has become a goal.

Most often, this brings on a feeling of fear. Fear you won’t be able to get all the work done, fear you won’t be able to do it right, fear that you’ll fail, and, most often hidden, fear that you will succeed and things will change.

Of all the fears you might have, it’s this last one that is the most dangerous because it’s challenging everything you have right now. Even when you say you want change, deep down there’s a part of you that will fight tooth and nail to keep things the way they are. This is just human nature.

Over your lifetime you’ve invested a lot of effort in getting to where you are, whether you realize it or not, and your subconscious wants to keep that investment. It thinks that change will waste all that investment, even though all that investment is the result of the many changes you’ve made in your life. It’s not logical, but that’s the way the subconscious works.

One of the most common effects of this you may always feel tired, lack energy, and not really want to do anything. In other words, depressed.

So how do you move forward?

Pick one small thing you can do that moves you closer to your goal, the smaller the better. Mark it down somewhere where you’ll see it often but don’t do it. It sounds counterintuitive, and will most likely make you feel even more depressed, but there is a reason for this. The more you see it, the more you’ll want to do it even though you don’t feel like doing it.

After a few days, pick one or two small tasks you need to do around your home, things that you’ve been putting off for whatever reason. Take a deep breath and do them. Don’t worry if it takes a couple of days to actually get them done. That’s okay.

Once you’ve done them, go back and look at the task you’ve given yourself to move towards your goal. In all likelihood, it won’t look so intimidating any more.

Now go do it!

Chances are, you’ll feel good about getting it done. Use that momentum to pick the next small thing you need to do and work on it. If you feel stuck again, write it down and repeat this process. Before you realize it, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your goal.

The fastest way to move towards your goal is to do something – anything. Just move!