There’s this idea niggling at the back of your mind. There’s a part of you that wants to just squish it down and ignore it. Giving in to the persistent press of this particular notion requires risk. You’d need to move out of a space that’s become comfortable into a new, untested realm.
There’s another part of you, however – the part that keeps pressing the thought forward, rolling it over in your mind to examine all its edges and mull its potential. That part is a little excited about an opportunity to do something new, something that propels you closer to a dream you once held or to try a new direction that you never dared dream about before.
Maybe you’ve even mustered the courage to utter the idea aloud to a trusted confidant. You’ve reached the conclusion that this idea is worth exploring more fully outside the confines of your imagination. Even as you begin to work out a plan forward, the unsettled anxiety around stepping out into the unknown tries to slow your roll. Taking that first step to pursue a promotion, to launch a new business, to create a thing, to go back to school, whatever it is – it’s scary.
There’s a reason the old proverb “the first step is the hardest” exists. This isn’t an earth-shattering revelation. We know it. No matter how confident we may be that we’ve settled in the right direction, change is scary. It means that what we do know, and what we have experience doing may be challenged. It means we may need to learn new things and adapt our habits and processes. It means we might fail.
First, let’s be clear, this isn’t about climbing the corporate ladder and pressing for success just for the sake of doing so. It’s not about never finding satisfaction with your life because you’re always looking for the next big mountain you need to climb. This is about personal and professional growth.
You may have the same job your entire career. You may live in the same house and enjoy the same hobbies. But even within those known spaces, you can be growing. Even cultivating a deeper peace within your soul and the spaces you already occupy can be part of a journey that shakes you up a little bit and demands the courage to shift out of your comfort zone. Of course, maybe the big idea you’ve been percolating will involve a big life change or career shift. It’s all growth.
Author Manuel Corazzari once said, “Every great journey begins with just the courage to take the first step, no matter how small.” That quote itself isn’t shocking or new. The first step being the hardest is a timeless proverb for a reason. We don’t need to test its veracity. We know it takes a dose of courage to recognize the what-ifs and then step forward anyway. What we can lose sight of, however, is the back end of Corazzari’s quote, “…no matter how small.”
Plenty of coaches and pundits will talk about taking a deep breath and making the leap. Someone, surely, will advise you to just jump in and do it. And sure, sometimes moving toward our dreams requires us to dive into the deep end vs wading tentatively into the pool from the shallow steps. However, as the quote assures us, even the smallest of steps forward is a step forward. Take it. And then, take the next small step.
Let’s say it again, small steps are still steps forward. Just keep taking them. Mark Twain said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one.”
Thinking about returning to school for a certification or degree? Your first step is mapping out the journey and then looking for what adjustments you may need to make along the way. The next step could be reaching out to the schools and programs that might offer you the courses and accreditation you’re seeking. It’s going to open houses or having a conversation with an admissions representative. Your next step is simply filling out an application. You should keep the end goal in mind, sure, but your immediate focus should be small and manageable steps to keep up momentum.
The goal of a martial artist, regardless of which discipline they study, is to earn a black belt. It’s a mark that you’ve mastered the core skills and developed the discipline associated with the practice. Every single black belt began as a white belt. Along the way they earned stripes on their belt or other markers identifying small bits of progress. They spent years toning muscles, honing their movements, improving their endurance and flexibility. It wasn’t about the passage of time. It was meeting a journey of milestones that marked accomplishment on the path to mastery.
Let this be the model for how you move forward on whatever journey you’re considering today. One step forward. One milestone accomplished. Each small step takes you further along the path toward your ultimate goal.
(908) 345-0382