Taking That First Step Toward Happiness

Today I would like to talk about something else besides learning, namely “taking steps”. Not learning to walk, literally, mind you. I’m hoping you all do that well by now as long as you’re able. The steps I’m talking about are the ones we take when first starting something new. Do you remember the first big project you had in school? Maybe it was a science project, something really scary that you were sort of afraid to do. You knew you couldn’t get out of it, but you put if off as long as possible, right? Well, I’m thinking most people do the same thing, we procrastinate until we feel guilt and shame, then at the last minute give this super-human effort to get it done. Looking back, the “first step” was the hardest, right?

For most people taking that first step is truly the hardest one. After that, you start to get some momentum. After you get halfway finished, you think to yourself “why did I ever wait so long to start?” It depends on how big the task, or project, whatever you’re putting off is, but the bigger it is the longer you procrastinate, right? So if you’re trying to make a life-changing event happen in your life, it’s really tough. So what’s the best way to overcome this feeling? Oh yea, that fear inside of you. It tells you “I never did that before, how can I?” Or worse yet “you’ll never be that successful”. First of all, get over it. Get over the fear once and for all, it will cripple you in every task you undertake and must be removed immediately! To be successful in life, facing your fears are one of the most important and critical things you can do. I’m not saying successful people aren’t afraid of anything, it’s just that they face their fears head-on!

Whatever it is you must tell yourself “I can do this” - find someone else that’s already done it and see how they did it. Do your research, write down everything you find about the task you need to accomplish, and soon you’ll find it is getting smaller and smaller. You will shrink this task down to nothing, once you realize it is just another “thing” you need to learn to do. In your lifetime you’ve done literally thousands of new things, and got through them. So what’s the difference? Knowing the longer you put off starting the task the harder it will become, why not just jump into action, and take the first step now! If you’re too busy then write down on a piece of paper “Take the first step!” and put where you can’t miss it. It will remind you, every time you see it, that can’t put it off any longer. Take the first step now, you’ll feel better. And you know the task will be so much faster after that first step is out of the way!

What are you waiting for? Take the first step now!

To your continued success and happiness!