Have you ever found yourself staring up at the sky thinking, “I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do?” You feel confused, overwhelmed, unsure of yourself and the decisions before you. You’re waiting for a sign, a confirmation from God, something that will assure you that you’re on the right track. But you know what happens? Nothing. No lightbulb, no grand signal, nothing but silence that makes you feel afraid, alone and unable to move. So you stand there, waiting…
This has happened to all of us at one point or another. We come to a place in life where we have to make a decision and we feel as though we can’t move or take that first step because we can’t see the second step, or the next, those beyond or the landing at the top. So, we stand there, gazing, straining, trying to see what’s coming next, so we feel comfortable lifting our foot off the ground. Unfortunately, while we wait, strain and pray, we often become frozen. Staring at a dark staircase wishing for light to shine through and make everything clear. But regrettably, that just isn’t going to happen. So what do we do now? I’ll tell you what. We end up in this ‘what if’ argument with ourselves, “To step or not to step? What if I step up and I fall? What if it’s the wrong direction? What if I fail? What if no one helps me? What do I do then? What if I have to climb back down and be embarrassed?”
We can very quickly get hung up here and spend days, weeks, months, or worse, years just deciding whether to step or not. With the sad thing being all the time, energy and potential wasted just standing there with nothing to show for it. That realization alone can be enough to push me forward. But just in case you need a little more inspiration, motivation or encouragement to get you moving into something new, here are my Top 5 Reasons for Taking the First Step.
1. Fear sucks. Literally, it sucks the life out of you. Keeps you from experiencing and enjoying all the wonderful new things that come your way. Fear sucks the joy out of “life” because you become stuck and can’t get anywhere. Boredom sets in because you can’t see new possibilities if you don’t move.
2. Sometimes the unknown is a good thing. So often we don’t move because we are nervous about what we don’t know, can’t see or imagine. But, that’s how we grow emotionally, spiritually and physically. By coming in contact with different and unexpected experiences, we have to learn new skills, develop new ways of coping and thinking that push us to new heights we never thought we could reach.
3. It builds confidence. Taking the first step leads to the second and third. There’s nothing like starting something new, and pushing through, to give you a sense of pride in yourself and your abilities. The things we’re most proud of are the things we work the hardest at and it’s that pride that gives us the strength and confidence to keep going and try other things.
4. You owe it to yourself. Every day we work, get things done, take care of obligations, family, friends and so forth, but often we forget about ourselves. We feel guilty about taking time to start something just for us. You lose out when you don’t treat yourself special like you do others. We all need chances to grow and succeed. You have to tell yourself that You’re worth it and deserve it. Because you are and you do!
5. Life’s too short not to. We never know what life may bring, so just do it now. Putting it off until everything lines up or until everyone agrees with you could mean you never get to it. You could miss it and let’s face it…. We all hate dealing with the “woulda, shoulda, coulda” thoughts and regrets.
So be bold, take a chance and step up into something new. You’d be amazed at what you’re able to do and the great things you can experience. Still feeling scared? Struggling with what to do next? All it takes is one call to connect you to the support you need. You’ve already done the hardest thing: admitting you need help. You already took the first step. You’re here. You’re ready for change. Now, keep going. Your 15 minute consultation is free and confidential, so just pick up the phone and call at (760) 490- 0109 or send me an email.