Starting anything is about crossing the action line; moving from inaction to action.
The main reason people don't start is that they feel some kind of discomfort. Your brain wants to avoid discomfort so it prevents you from starting. One thing that creates discomfort in our brain is ambiguity. If you're starting something new or feel overwhelmed you may not know where to start and that's uncomfortable for your brain.
You can reduce the discomfort by identifying the exact action that you're going to take to start. Take a paper and decide on the amount of time that you have to complete your first action. Somewhere between 10 and 25 minutes is the sweet spot. Now draft your first action.
- Begin the sentence with a clear and actionable verb, like email, call, find, review, research, buy, take, draft, or send
- Write the action as if you were going to give it to someone else to do, that helps you clarity further.
- Make sure this is an action you could stand up right now and do. You have the tools, resources and ability to take this action. If not, then this isn't the first action to take. Identify what you would have to do first - that may be your first action. Re-draft that as your first action.
Once you have identified a simple and doable next action you've created more comfort for your brain. And you know it's possible for you to start today.
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On a related note...
I am starting a daily online writing habit. For the next 30 days, I will be posting an atomic essay to improve my writing and understand better what women (like you!) want to hear about.
If you'd like to follow along and comment, encourage me and share my posts with others you think will enjoy them, I'd appreciate it. You will find my daily writing posted on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, and for those not on social media, Medium.
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In other words...
Nobody can go back and start a new beginning,
but anyone can start today and make a new ending."
- Maria Robertson
"If you start today to do the right thing,
you are already a success even if it doesn't show yet."
- John C. Maxwell
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A good question...
What can starting today look like for me?
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Until next Sunday,
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