part0021

Getting started can be the most difficult part of any effort. Maybe you’ve faced some daunting challenges and asked yourself questions like:

Everything new can feel overwhelming just because it is new. Things that are unfamiliar often generate anxiety, and many of us are in the habit of trying to escape or to move away from feelings that resemble anxiety. We convince ourselves that anxiety signals danger, and then we prevent ourselves from trying things that are new or uncertain.

The good news is you can handle your anxiety about getting started in a healthier, more adaptive way. Learning to manage your anxiety will not only reduce it significantly but also boost your self-confidence.

My tip for doing this is to remember that you are both safe and resilient .

You are safe because many of the worries you may have now will never come to pass. They are largely constructed from your imagination. In reality you are safe, and you most likely will be safe going forward. In fact, you’ll be much better able to handle what happens (and keep yourself safe) when you clear your mind of your imaginary worries and stay grounded in reality.

You are resilient because when you need to, you know how to make it through tough situations and times. You have the capacity to be calm, to be in touch with what your instincts are telling you, and to pay attention to what’s important. You know how to adapt as needed in the presence of stress and adversity. Importantly, you also know how to rebuild after experiencing challenges and disappointments.

The next time you need to get started on something that seems difficult or daunting, start by emboldening yourself. There’s no need to terrify yourself about what’s to come. Remind yourself that you are safe and resilient so you can move forward with full power.

Motivation is the desire or energy that leads you to get into action. We can be motivated by so many different factors, each one as unique as each of us is as human beings. Motivation, as we all know, can be in abundant supply sometimes and nowhere to be found at other times.

One of the most important lessons I’ve ever learned about motivation is that it is something that can come after we start taking action. Contrary to popular belief, we do not require motivation to begin. Please read that again and let it sink in. We do not require motivation to begin.

You do not need to drum up your enthusiasm in order to try that yoga class. You do not need to have any reason at all to start decluttering your home office. You don’t need the benefit of an on-ramp to take off. You can just begin.

Having motivation can be extremely useful. Motivation helps us apply our energy to see our ideas and wishes take shape. Let’s grab hold of it, add our enthusiasm and initiative, and see what we can make happen when we move ahead.

As we learned in chapter 1 , it’s important to break big tasks into smaller, more doable steps. That lesson applies to the process of getting started as well. If you’re feeling like you are unable to start, shrink the size of the initial step you plan to take.

If, for instance, you need to mail a package, but you have mixed feelings about doing so, you can decide the first action step will be to get the package ready to mail. The second step will be to put it by the door, so you remember to take it with you the next time you run errands. By doing these microsteps, you tackle the procrastination and move the package closer to its destination.

When you need to break things down into microsteps, don’t judge yourself. Self-criticism and self-judgment are never great ways to speed ourselves up—they just drag us down. And we’re not going to be slowed down by our own thinking anymore.

We’ve all been in the situation where we’ve needed to get going on some work or where we’ve needed to change our habits for the better. We’ve also all been in the situation where we’ve said to ourselves, “I’m not going to start until I feel the time is right.”

You don’t need the “perfect moment” to begin. Get in the habit of thinking that any moment would be a good time to start. Start quickly with what you have, and trust you’ll have everything you need before you’re through. Soon, you’ll be happily counting up the hours you saved by not waiting until everything was perfect.

Keep a lookout for other objections like:

We often wait to be inspired by other things, people, and circumstances. There’s no need to wait for a certain day, for other people in your life, or for your energy to cooperate. Let’s get more active and inspire ourselves through our own actions!

EXERCISES TO HELP YOU OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND INTERNAL OBJECTIONS TO GETTING STARTED

Clarity is the mother of productivity. When we know why we are working, we can direct our focus, maintain our interest, and reach our goals. When we don’t define why we are working or trying to change things, we may lose the feeling of wanting to work soon after we begin.

Be specific and bold when defining your “why.” Answer the following questions to get more clear on your “why”:

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Why is your project important to share with the world? Why is it important to finish it?

Write your complete “why” statement below. Return to it whenever you need a motivation boost.

Just as you would prepare a travel itinerary, noting every reservation needed, list all the action items and essential parts of your project before you get started. Writing this project plan will save you from having free-floating anxiety about what you need to get done and will help you stay focused. Here are some questions you can use:

What is the best environment for you to work in? Is that location or space available?

Whenever you want to get started, pick the task that seems easiest to complete. This allows you to ease into motion and to break free from that feeling of paralysis that happens when you just can’t seem to start. Getting the easiest task done first (and a few others afterward) will put you in a winning mood.

BONUS TIP: Keep a list of five-minute to-do items you can take care of when you find yourself waiting for someone or if you have extra time. Start that list here:

When your focus is in full gear or when you feel your motivation is running high, you may decide to handle the largest, most important task on your list first. Even when you don’t feel particularly focused or motivated, aiming to complete the most difficult part of your goal first has a lot of advantages.

One advantage is that by dealing with the most difficult task first, you give yourself enough time and space to handle it properly. Another advantage is you end up feeling that everything after the difficult part will be easy in comparison.

List the advantages of handling the most difficult or time-consuming part of your goal first:

Remember that whether you choose the easiest or the hardest task to start, it’s the starting that matters most.