I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how hard it can feel to begin something new, like the exercise program I keep saying I will take on or the daily schedule I will keep to. Here’s the thing: Complaining about it only makes it worse. And getting started is the hard part. After you start, it gets easier.
Inertial is the worst. That’s what keeps you stuck. The more you don’t do what you say you are going to do, the moreย you don’t do it–and the more you believe you can’t or won’t. The harder it starts to feel, too.
Every day you don’t start, your confidence level drops another notch. And so you wait another day, and another. You tell yourself you’ll start someday. And, as the saying goes, someday never comes.
What do you want to start? Do you want to start:
- reading more
- exercising
- a diet
- dating
- divorce proceedings
- job hunting
- learning something new
- going back to college
- yoga
- knitting
- painting
- that book you said you want to write
- traveling
No matter what it is you want to start, to actually do it, you must…well…start!
Three weeks ago I began exercising again for the first time in ages. I’ve been wanting begin exercising on a regular weekly schedule for a long, long time but I don’t fit it into my schedule. The first week, I managed a weekend two-hour hike and one short bike ride and one home exercise session. The second week, I managed a 30-minute walk and a 30 minute bike ride. This past week I managed two minute 45 bike rides and a three-mile walk. Okay, so it isn’t regular yet; it’s not five times a week and it’s not a set routine. But I started, and it’s getting easier. Now I need to fit it into my weekday schedule because I’m mostly exercising Friday-Sunday. But I started.
I want to read more. I finished a book over the last three weeks or so. I typically only read online and what I must read for work, which is why I have no time for other books. Now I’m reading for 5 minutes here and there–at lunch, while I wait for someone, while my husband watches television. For me, reading anotherย book in my “spare” time is good. I want to step this up to a book every two weeks. We’ll see how that goes. But I started. And now I’m much more eager and willing to make time to read–even to give up some sleep (or to read until my eyes are closing before bed). It feels easier.
Again, starting is the hard part. I think when you make the commitment and set the intention to follow through on what you say you want to do, not only does it activate an energy within you, it activates an energy outside of you as well. It’s an affirmation of action. You are doing what you said you would do and wanted to do and the Universe, or God, responds. The energy flows. And you find that it becomes easier to continue exercising, reading, going to Yoga class, dating, looking for a new job, etc. It’s like your Soul, which knows what is best for you, and Divine forces collaborate to help you.
And the action of doing what you said you want to do, no matter how hard, starts to feel easier. And so you continue doing it. And you feel more confident. You feel better about yourself. You succeed.
Tell me about what you want to start or how you started something that felt hard and how it got easier.
Photo courtesy ofย ยฉ Royalty-Free/Corbis
