Why Starting Is Hard, And How to Move Forward

In my last post, I wrote about the benefits of learning new skills and listed a few strategies to help you succeed. In this post I’m going deeper into why starting is hard, and how to overcome the hurdles and move forward.

Why starting is hard

Often, the hardest part of a project is getting started, whether it’s a simple task like cleaning the house or a major goal like going back to school to learn new skills.

Why is that?

Many reasons, but one is a thing called Resistance (with a capital R). I think Resistance is rooted in our human tendency to resist change. Just like gravity and inertia must be overcome for us to move, Resistance must be overcome for us to make any kind of positive change.

Resistance wants you to stay in your rut, fearful of change, shrinking from that stirring in your soul that says you can do more, pursue your dreams, or learn new skills. Resistance can include any habits, thoughts, objects, or people who hold us back or convince us not to try.

In his book The War of Art, Steven Pressfield writes at length about Resistance. He says:

“Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work.”

“Rule of thumb: the more important a call or action is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it.”

Resistance is a force of nature that will never disappear, but you have the power to overcome it. Here are three simple strategies that will help you.

Starting is hard, so make it easy to take the first step

Another reason starting is hard is that sometimes the action we want to achieve isn’t really the first step. For example, before I bake cookies, I need to find the recipe, gather ingredients, and schelp the mixer from the storage cupboard.

Basically, the more prep an action requires, the harder it is to start. Fortunately, there’s an easy strategy to overcoming this problem: Make it easy to get started by doing as much as you can ahead of time.

This might be as simple as looking up phone numbers and adding them to the to-do list for tomorrow. Having the number right in front of you eliminates a step and makes calling that much easier. (My fellow phone-call-hating introverts will understand the importance of this tip. We’ll use any excuse to avoid making a call. This tiny bit of prep really makes a difference.)

A more significant example is to set out your gear or supplies the night before. For example, If you have your exercise togs already packed, you’ve made it easier to actually get to the gym or walking trail.

The principal here is to prepare for a task when our brain power and motivation are high rather than when we are tired, hangy, or in a hurry.

As a side benefit, seeing the stuff you’ve prepared ahead of time reminds you of your intentions and motivates you to accomplish it.

Write it in your schedule

Studies show that we humans are more likely to accomplish a goal that has a specific time and place associated with it.

For example, a goal such as “I am going to exercise tomorrow” is vague and easy to ignore. Because you didn’t set a specific time, you can keep putting it off. However, when you decide “Tomorrow at 5:30 I will go to the gym” or “I will walk the neighborhood Wednesday from 12:30 to 1:00” now you are faced with a specific plan that is much harder to ignore.

Specify a time and place. So simple, and yet so powerful.

And of course, once you’ve chosen a time and place, don’t forget to add it on your calendar or scheduling app.

Do SOMETHING, no matter how insignificant.

We’ve all been paralyzed by doubt and indecision. We’re ready to start a project, but we aren’t sure where to start, or which path is the best. Problem is, we can analyze the situation to death, but until we take action, we haven’t made progress.

When you’re stuck like that, action of any kind is better than remaining frozen in indecision or fear. So find one tiny step that you know you can accomplish, and do that much. Then take another tiny step. Every action you take moves you somewhere. In hindsight it may not have been the absolute best choice, but it was a step.

With each step you accomplish, you have a better view of what the next options are. Each step opens up opportunities that weren’t available before. You never know what’s just around the corner until you get there, so just keep taking baby steps and you’ll eventually build momentum and grow more confident.

I hope these strategies have encouraged you to move forward, even when starting is hard. Don’t let Resistance keep you from tackling worthwhile challenges, learning new things, or pursuing your God-given dreams. You can do it, one small but intentional step at a time.