There’s Only One Way To Start.
What is it about human nature that make us so afraid? I’m not talking about fear of things you can’t control (death, taxes, and the stock market), rather what is in your control.
Taking a step deeper into fear, if we know we can control situations, master our domains and affect outcomes, why do we feel overwhelmed and afraid when faced with something new? More importantly, at what point in the lifecycle of this newness can we take the reins and make the most impact?
Not totally sure where the pear is going, but at least it is starting!
When faced with starting something new or mundane, the moments between acknowledging that it is time to start and when the proverbial rubber hits the road will guide the success (or failure) of the rest of the journey.
We can boil human nature down to a few reactions to this on a spectrum. You will notice these in your personal and professional life, but to make it simpler to see what this looks like in real life let’s use a terrifying scenario:
It’s the end of every year, and you’ve decided to make the dreaded resolution to get in shape/lose weight/be healthier. So can you react and what does it mean for the likelihood of success?
On the surface this seems like a great reaction. You want to see yourself, your team, or family pounce on an idea and just start sprinting to get it done. Through incentives, your charisma or fear, the energy is high to get moving and QUICK!
What this looks like : January 2nd (let’s be honest, everyone takes January 1st off from resolutions), you go grocery shopping and get only beans, tofu and lettuce — no dressing of course. You dust off those shoes and try to go for an hour run, or maybe you spend some money joining a new gym, buy a FitBit or get new workout outfits. Suddenly you are a workout fiend. Watch out The Rock, I’m coming for you!!!! Then you miss a day. Or have a donut. Back to the gym for a few days. Then OK, let’s take the next week off this is hard work. Well, you know just one Portillo’s milk shake won’t hurt, because you deserve it…of course!!!
Without a plan, you will eventually burn out, don’t have a structure to find out if you are working smartly or have a realistic goal. FAIL!
Reaction: I’ll guess I’ll do this, but will put the minimal amount of effort and maybe get it done. Someday.
This is what happens to so many people, especially when it comes to a lack of internal motivation, external inspiration or a realistic schedule. If you aren’t ready to start, or if you don’t know why you are starting — don’t start.
What this looks like : You decide to use your barbells from college even though they are rusty and cut your hands up. You make a super secret promise to yourself to workout, ya know, before bed or while watching TV. And…tomorrow you will have fish tacos instead of a burrito (but you still need those chips and guac!)
If this is where you find yourself or your team, figure out a way to reframe this activity. Look for why the outcome matters and what will improve when you successfully complete the challenge. Get or give clarity on why this task is more important in a larger context. Sometimes, life gives you lemons and you are going to just have to suck it up and get it done, but always give it your best. If you don’t, you will never get to move on to the more exciting projects. FAIL!
Reaction: I’ll guess I’ll do this…and keep putting it off.
You know that to-do list that keeps getting longer and longer? Wondering why nothing seems to get done and you keep adding more … getting more stressed out … waking up in the middle of the night because you have too many things swirling in your head? This is what happens when you stutter-step your start. Life won’t slow down for your indecision to start.
What this looks like: You PLAN on joining that gym, but it’s so cold out and swimsuit season is, like, 6 months away! You just need to clean your clothes off that stationary bike you bought last year. Just Pinterest those healthy recipes and get to them over the weekend.
This is one of the worst reactions, because you are kidding yourself that this is a priority but not resolving to get it done. The voice in the back of your head that tells you that you need to get it done slowly becomes a choir of cacophony as you get inundated with other requests and needs. Before you know it, you have a list of dozens of priorities that you haven’t started, can’t start and are overwhelmed with the idea of finding the start line. FAIL!
Reaction: Can I go hide? I’m not doing this.
For whatever reason, this activity is dreadful. Maybe it’s something new and challenging. Maybe you are scared of failing before even beginning. Maybe you’ve tried it before and failed or just hate the work.
What this looks like: you never really meant that resolution, right? Nobody really makes resolutions you tell yourself, then become upset that you aren’t in better shape that you sit on your couch, look at Instagram pictures of celebrities in bikinis while eating a bucket of fried chicken.
Avoid this trap at all costs. If you find yourself slipping into this void do whatever you can to get out, even if it’s smaller steps or a hodge podge of activity. Remember, hard work takes time, but starts somewhere. Even if you don’t get to the right place, getting out of the wrong place is a good way to re-start.
Yikes, this seems complicated. How should you approach the starting line?
Reaction: I’m excited and am going to jump in, but first let’s get ready.
This is where you want to be. Excited about the potential, but calculated and planned. Ready to start a journey while making sure you have the right equipment.
What this looks like: In the best case, you start before new years. Try a few activities to see what you like and don’t dread. Try some new foods, cook instead of eating out a little more, or prepare food that is incrementally better for you. Slowly introduce new exercise and diet. Figure out a plan to record and track your progress and understand your motivation/triggers. Get a workout buddy or someone that will help hold you accountable and cheer you on. Take a day off when you need to. Have a goal in mind, but set up milestones to get there and have people on the journey to help keep you on track.
There is a fine line between all of these reactions, but the best advice- if you aren’t going to start with a plan, at least START…with measured gusto. You can always pause to figure out the plans and details you skipped in your excitement to start- it’s certainly a lot easier than trying to gain momentum if you stalled or didn’t want to start in the first place.
So get up to the line and…start!
This was written while listening to the vinyl album:
Originally published at tomvranas.com.
