Take the wrong first step.

The most difficult part of ANY journey is taking the first step.

I have seen this time and time again with road trips I’ve taken, creative challenges I’ve done (such as this newsletter), and when first getting into fitness.

The Roadtrip Example 🚐

In April of 2021 my wife and I left with an updated engine (amongst other updates) for a 4,000+ mile road trip out west in our 34-year-old VW Van.

We had finished up the engine swap less than a week before heading out on our massive road trip.

This left me hardly any time to “break in” the new engine and test it out. So guess what we had to do?

We had to leave anyway!

So, with less than 100 miles on our engine, we packed up, left the driveway, and completed each one of these 4,000+ miles – one at a time.

I can confidently recall that the first 5 miles of the trip were easily the most stressful and complicated.

• I was worrying that we had everything we needed.
• I was worrying that our engine would overheat.
• I was worrying that we weren’t leaving enough time for the long drive ahead.

Leaving the driveway was the most difficult part.

…And there were plenty of difficulties during that month 🤣

Where to Begin?

Now, how does this relate to your own life journey? Taking the first step is always going to be the hardest part.

What things do you know you need to do, but can’t seem to find the motivation to start?

Our minds trick us into thinking that these things are unworthy pursuits.

What happens when you take one step? Then two steps? And three?

• Your momentum begins to build, and it’s actually more difficult to stop than it is to keep going.

Even when your first step leads you into the unknown, you’ve already overcome the greatest difficulty.

What if you don’t know where to start?

Think honestly with yourself when the last time you felt fulfillment. Think about what your “life goals” are. Think about the things you love to do when you (rarely) find the time.

Has your current life path brought you closer to these things, or further from them?

Use that as motivation to kick it into gear!

The Wrong Step

A life without frightening first steps, is a life without growth.

Motivation won’t come to you on some special occasion. You aren’t going to “find yourself” while sticking to the same habits, activities, and relationships you’ve always had.

It is through trial and error, research and development, and taking small first steps. This is how you find how you can be used as a creation of God.

Seek and you will find.

Take the first step, even if it’s the wrong one.

This is issue #009 from my weekly newsletter, The Stoke Seminar. To receive these emails directly to your inbox, sign up for free.

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