The tendency to put off difficult tasks that we don’t want to face is almost universal.
And it turns out, the moment of starting a task is often so much harder than actually doing the task.
Once we get started, there can be challenges (and we will want to switch to something else) … but if we can just start, then half the battle is already won.
So getting good at starting something tough can be a powerful skill to master.
Let’s talk about how to master it.
What Gets in the Way
Why is it so hard to start? We feel uncertainty, fear, stress, overwhelm about the task. Or it makes us feel bad about ourselves, inadequate in some way.
The opportunity is in finding a new way of seeing these tasks — instead of filled with overwhelm, stress and inadequacy … we can find a more powerful way of seeing the uncertainty of this task. It can be an opportunity, an adventure, a playground, an expression of our art?
It Can be a dance of joy, a powerful way to serve others with love.
Find that for yourself. What is the opportunity of this task? What would make it meaningful and joyful?
Connect to that before you start, and things will get easier.
How to Start
Once you’ve taken a look at how you’re viewing the task, and find a new way to view it … you’re ready to train yourself at starting!
Here’s what I recommend:
- Pick a task that’s important/meaningful, but that you’ve been putting off. Usually it’s easy to find one. Look at your list, think about what you’ve been avoiding. Pick one, even if it’s a fairly random choice, it doesn’t matter.
- Find a way to make it meaningful & joyful. How can you view this task so that it’s an adventure or play, that it feels like a powerful opportunity? Even just a little bit is good. Connect to that.
- Shrink down the task. You don’t have to do the whole thing at once. Just a bit of it at a time. For example, instead of having to develope this whole website, I broke it into 15 minute sections and took breaks. Its like Golf. It will never be perfect.
- Perfection. Don’t worry about whether your project will be perfect or not. It can stop you before you start. Its also in the eye of the beholder. What might not look perfect to you, most likely looks perfect to most everyone else. Just do it.
- Dive in joyfully. You only need to start. You can work on staying with the task later. Just start! See it as a dance, a way to serve, a way to bring the full vitality of your being! Pour yourself in.
How to Practice the Art of the Start
An amazing way to practice this is to set yourself a challenge to do this once a day, 5 days a week, for a month
- Make a daily list of things to do. Check them off (very satisfying) as you finish them
- “Just Start”. Once you start a project it takes off all by itself.
- Do a short review every week. Very satisfying when you look at your list and realize what you’ve accomplished
- Do it with others if it helps. That means you might meet someone that can help you tackle the things that you’ve been putting off. It gives you the little push you need to start.
- Enjoy the practice! Don’t make this a sacrifice, another burden in your life. Make it a playful, joyful adventure. Something that feels meaningful and delicious.