With my husband Greg currently conducting a thruhike of the Appalachian Trail (2,200 miles), the saying “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,” has new meaning and relevancy to me.

All of a sudden, a thousand miles doesn’t seem that far, and it seems doable! I’ve even started thinking of my goals as Appalachian Trails.  It helps me to remember that if I keep putting one foot in front of the other, eventually I’ll get there.

But many people never even begin their journeys, because usually, the first step is the hardest one to take.

Why is that? It’s just a step, right?

Well, no, it’s more than that.

To most of us that first step is hugely symbolic. It’s the beginning of something new. It’s change. It’s making a choice to pursue a goal or a dream. And it’s making a commitment. In our minds, we’ve put so much importance on the first step, that the journey seems laborious and burdensome, instead of fun and exciting.

If you are having a hard time taking that first step, in some aspect of your business or your life, then you are consciously or unconsciously resisting. On some level you are probably thinking:

“What if this journey is wrong?”
“What if I don’t like the path?”
“What if it’s hard?”
“What if I don’t make it?”

And by doing that, you’ve stopped before you started.

Some people have more inertia – the tendency to stay the same – than others. You know that’s you if you have trouble getting out of bed in the morning, or if you struggle with relatively small decisions, like what sandwich to order or which movie to watch.

But like the “Little Engine That Could,” once you get your wheels in motion, then you are fine. It’s getting moving in the first place that’s the tricky part.

But movement is also the key to getting unstuck. Taking action, no matter how small, is the first step in the journey. If you are feeling stuck then you MUST do something – anything - before the sun sets today. You must move!

And that first movement could be simply writing your intentions, taking a book out of the library, doing some research online, or asking someone for help.

It could even be a walk around the block to, literally, get moving! It’s amazing how much better I think and clearer I feel when my body is in motion. When I’m in action, I am more in touch with my own power, and my perspective can shift greatly.

Some other tips to getting started:

1. Surrender. Become aware of your own resistance. Take an honest look at your feelings and what’s holding you up. Decide to just let go.

2. Choose. Remember: a step is just a step. You are not locked in forever. You can always make a different choice. When you realize you always have the power to choose, making a choice is a lot easier.

3. Lighten up! Don’t take the journey so seriously. Treat it as an adventure. It’s OK to have fun along the way. Play!

4. Chunk it down.  Start small. Break the steps down into bite-size, doable pieces. What is the smallest, no-fail step you can take today?

5. Buddy up.  Having a friend, spouse, business partner, or coach can help make the journey a lot less scary and speed your time to completion!

And to answer those questions:

“What if the journey is wrong?” — No journey is ever wrong. If you do what feels right and trust yourself, then it’s right.

“What if I don’t like the path?” –- Choose a different one. You are in charge!

“What if it’s hard?” — It’s only hard if you decide that it’s hard. It can be anything you want it to be. Decide that it’s easy, and it will be easier.

“What if I don’t make it?” — You’ll still be further ahead than you are now, and you will end up exactly where you are supposed to be.

Sometimes you won’t know if you are on the right journey until you start. But starting is the only way you’ll ever find out.