{"id":2575,"date":"2019-10-28T20:09:17","date_gmt":"2019-10-28T20:09:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/?p=2575"},"modified":"2021-09-19T16:32:57","modified_gmt":"2021-09-19T16:32:57","slug":"how-to-start","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bloomsoup.com\/how-to-start\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Start Anything"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The trainers in this picture tell a story. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When I was younger I was always sporty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although this mostly consisted of chasing small balls around a court or pitch, I also ran a little, eventually stopping in my mid-teens when growing pains made hills problematic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two years ago I had the urge to run again. Something about the simplicity of the activity called. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then, in a typical case of behaviour change jitters, I procrastinated, looking for a new pair of trainers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I researched \u2018best of\u2019 lists and scoured forums for advice.
But soon after I became aware of the reason for my searching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I was afraid, scared of heading outside on a lonely dark morn with only my thoughts and the road for company. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So I resolved that day to stop overthinking and buy a cheap pair of running trainers. No bells and whistles, nothing fancy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then I had no excuses. Nothing standing between me and simply starting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019re so often afraid of disturbing our lives by changing our behaviours that we concoct all sorts of things we need first…<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Time to prepare, the ideal equipment, access to the right people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But so often these factors are just fear disguised as pragmatism. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When getting started, all the equipment and tools are secondary. Facilitators, nothing more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When starting you don\u2019t need the best, you just need to get going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most valuable investment when engaging any new activity is simply showing up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And research is very often redundant anyway. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we start something new, the greatest gift we have is to enter with the beginner’s mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a blank canvas of possibility, we’ve no idea how we’ll feel or react. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We might start wood carving just to realise that we don\u2019t like it that much after all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So that time you\u2019ve spent scouring wood carving magazines for the best knives, in the end, is wasted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the real world action is the most valuable currency. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perfectionism, while itself unobtainable, is completely counterproductive in the initial stages of starting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You see, action creates information, without which we can only speculate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can think we need a particular piece of software to start coding, but until we actually enter the trenches, it\u2019s all guesswork. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
That application you\u2019ve been ogling might be fine for experienced professionals, but completely unnecessary for your ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When starting, therefore, the first key is to simply show up repeatedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At first, you will want to quit, and undoubtedly many promising pursuits are preemptively abandoned in the graveyard of lofty ideals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Anything unfamiliar to us will be horrible to start. Know this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our minds and bodies will complain that we have zero idea of what we\u2019re doing and encourage us to quit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our weaker moments, a sly little voice will whisper about succumbing to the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the worst thing? You\u2019ll have no evidence to the contrary, with no immediate results to show for your effort. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Naturally, when the self-condemnation starts, you\u2019ll begin to question the validity of your desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Know that this is natural. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Self-criticism is simply the ego-driven mind betraying its fear, urging you to return to your familiar, comfortable existence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t let it triumph. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, divorce your enjoyment from results and abandon any unrealistic expectations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cultivate an awareness of your new activity. Be present, interested and engaged, but ask for nothing else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon you’ll reach the end of the valley of disappointment and perhaps even start to see small changes in your identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through the simple process of showing up, you might now see yourself as someone who codes. Or writes. Or sings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the first, and perhaps most powerful dose of validation you can receive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It will also spawn newfound confidence that you can persist through self-doubt and emerge triumphant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’ll feel stronger for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This identity shift can create a renewed passion for the activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next, with enough time and continued practice, you might start to see some results from your efforts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such returns are good waypoints, providing valuable dopamine breadcrumbs on the path to mastery. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
But they’re simply signposts. While results are ego-strengthening, it\u2019s important not to over-identify with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Attaching your happiness to external success metrics is all very well when everything’s peachy, but will inevitably turn sour when you hit your next performance plateau. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you develop either a habit or love for the activity, you’ll naturally start to gather feedback. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here, you\u2019re simply gathering enough data to make small tweaks in your learning process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Much like driving a car, by assessing your progress you can adjust the steering wheel to stay on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gathering real-world data, rather than listening to ego-inflated fears ahead of time, is what just starting is all about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s the difference between trying something, rather than asking for help first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your questions are more valid because they\u2019re based on evidence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The longer we deliberate before starting anything, the longer we delay access to real-world results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The research we pursue often makes us feel good, providing the illusion of progress. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We give ourselves a pat on the back for our hard work while never actually moving forward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dream in our head remains pristine, unsullied by the hard knocks of life and untainted by potential failure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
We can go on talking to our friends and family about what we plan to do, at which point they\u2019ll nod, smile and make the right noises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So if you want to write that novel, stop reading books by successful authors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to start that new business, refrain from watching endless YouTube videos by wealthy entrepreneurs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And if you\u2019d like the finally get healthy, put the diet plans down and simply move more while eating better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I say this to myself as much as anyone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Making progress isn\u2019t rocket science. How to start?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s one tiny action, followed by another and then another. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ask yourself, what actions can you take today to inform the rest of your tomorrow\u2019s? Begin there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
My trainers tell an important story. That conditions don\u2019t have to be perfect to take the first step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So don\u2019t be afraid to take yours. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Want to know how to start doing something important to you?<\/p>\n
Whether that’s a business, side project, activity or hobby, there’s an art to starting.<\/p>\n
Click here to learn more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2596,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n