The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance. Alan Watts
My partner has recently started a big professional venture that brings him closer to his dreams of owning San Diego's premier mortgage broker (San Diego Home Loans). I feel incredible pride and have watched him take small steps over the past few months to launch his new brand.
Recently, we were sitting together on the couch and he seemed contemplative. I asked him to share his thoughts, and he said he felt conflicted about where to start for his new venture. In a sense, he has already begun, from the moment the idea appeared, to all the small steps he has already taken. In fact, he's made enormous progress!
Still, I felt it important, with his permission, to give my advice: it doesn't matter where you start, just start and you will see how it all shapes up and what you need to do.
In this example, springing into action required two steps: (1) recognizing the ways in which he had already started, and (2) deciding to start without worry about where to start.
Just spring into action!
Discussion Questions What is something that you are yearning to start? What helps you spring into action?
In a previous version of this blog post, the first discussion question I had proposed was "What is something that you are struggling to start?". Something about that question didn't sit right with me. Though we all face challenges and it's a great thing to be vulnerable and share our struggles, what I mainly realized was that the use of the word "struggling" was evoking within me negativity and deficit thinking. I thought about it and I decided to change "struggling" to "yearning" because, while the answer to the both questions might in fact be the same, one question focuses on what's wrong whereas the other one opens us up for possibilities. The language we use to describe what's diff…
Something I've been wanting to start is bodyweight training. In the past, it's been hard for me to enjoy this until I started doing it with friends. I learned the proper techniques to use my body to build my strength from my friends and they provided both enjoyment and accountability to this activity. What helps me get started is to publicly commit with at least one friend about what I want to start and the steps I plan to take. I then text my friend(s) periodically to share my progress.
Something that inspires me to begin challenging tasks is thinking about the benefits to both society and myself!
How will the world be a better place because of our actions?
Thanks for the inspiration, Maylen! Drawing my desired outcome has always energized me to get there. Not sure who said it but this phrase seems to capture your entry quite well, “well begun is half done!” - Dee