Just Start: “What Do I Want?”
Happy New Year everyone!
A while back I heard a phrase that has stuck with me: “There is no magic in Monday.” The idea is that it’s better to start on that dream or goal when you are first inspired to do so, versus waiting for some arbitrary time like Monday, or in the morning, or the first of the month, or the new year. I totally agree. If an idea comes to me at 8:20 on a Thursday evening, taking some action then and there (even if it’s just writing a note about the idea and what I need to do as a follow up) is favorable to saying, “I should get to this on Monday morning!”
That being said, I cannot deny that the beginning of a new year seems to prompt us to action. Logically there’s no difference in us or our abilities from December 31 to January 1, but something about the clock striking midnight and the change in the calendar fosters a mindset shift for many (as fleeting as it may be). There are so many possibilities, so much potential! So here I am encouraging you to take that momentum and just start.
Got a goal that you want to achieve but you’ve been putting off doing the work? Just start.
You know the next step to growing your business? Just start.
That thing that you let fall off but you know you need to pick up again? Just (re)start.
Of course if just starting was easy, we wouldn’t need a push to do it. First, there’s the uncertainty. Just start when I’m afraid of failing? Just start when I already have a lot on my plate and don’t know if I can add more? Just start in this economy? Just start when I don’t even know where to start? And many of us, myself included, battle procrastination. For whatever reason—improper prioritization, distraction, believing we work better under pressure, or simple laziness—we sometimes push things to the side until we eventually forget about them or just don’t feel the fervor we once did. So how do we move from this easier-said-than-done advice to steps that propels us forward?
Everyone’s course of action will differ depending on what we’re setting out to do, our support system, current skill sets, existing responsibilities, etc. But I think there is one question we can all use that will make getting started a bit easier.
We must learn to ask ourselves, “What do I really want?” And then we must learn to answer truthfully.
This question is so powerful because it provides clarity which leads to motivation. Lets look at a common new year’s resolution to see how this question is helpful. Suppose the goal is to lose weight. (Relatable, am I right?) On the surface, losing weight seems to be the main issue. But dig a little deeper; what is behind that? What is the desired effect of losing weight? Perhaps you want to be able to participate in some physical activity that you used to do with no problem, but now takes more effort. Maybe there are clothes in your closet from a few sizes ago that you really want to get back into. It might be that some health issue could be alleviated by the weight loss. You may just feel that you’ll be more attractive at your high school weight. Your reasons are your own and they are valid as long as they are true to you.
Knowing what you really want benefits you a few different ways. It makes deciding what you need to focus on a little clearer. Figuring out your first steps–and then actually taking those steps–will be easier and more rewarding because you know they actions you’re taking are aligned with your overall goal. When your why is at the forefront of your plan, you have built-in motivation when the process gets difficult because you have a bigger picture in mind. And you have a metric to determine if you are on track.
So as you prepare to start, know what you want and why you want it. Then make sure you keep it somewhere that will make you remember it: on your lock screen, in your wallet, a sticky note on the mirror… whatever works for you! If you find yourself slowing down or stopping, remember your why and just start.