Never Stop Starting

“Begin at once to live, and count each separate day as a separate life.” — Seneca

The Obstacle

We start.
We stick with it… for a little while.

For a little while.

We miss a day.
Two.
A week.
A month…

Before we know it, we’re making the same promise to ourselves.
Again.

We’ll stay in shape.
Go to the gym.
Eat better.
Buy good food.
Run - at least walk or jog.
Be more present.
Stop looking at our phones.
Stress less over stupid stuff.
Focus on what’s important.

For most of us, sooner or later, we fall off the wagon.
Stop showing up.
Lose motivation.
We’re not consistent.

We become restless.
To do something else.

We avoid the promise.
Make excuses.
Get stuck in the planning phase.
Wait for everything to be perfect before we start.
Rely on someone to help us or show up.

We just don’t show up like we know we should.

The Gift and Opportunity

Never stop Starting.

A few days ago was New Years Eve and most of us made promises to ourselves.
Promises we’d change… something.

We’re making the same promises we made before.

Eat better.
Run.
Work out.
Finally get that project going…

Why do we stop?

Because we stop starting.

We started before.
We can start again.

We’ve stuck with other things.
We can stick with this.

We already have habits, good and bad.
So we know how habits work.

We can decide not to be restless.
Not to avoid.
Not to rely on motivation.

We can decide to show up.

One set.
See how it goes.

One lap around the block.

Five minutes into the project.

If we start, chances are we keep going.
The full workout.
A mile or two.
An hour or two on the project.

Things get done.

Real change happens by consistently showing up.
By consistently starting.

Every day, start. Never Stop STARTING

When you’re not motivated - START
you don’t feel good - START
the weather’s not right - START
you don’t want to - START
no one else shows up - START

Just start.

Never stop starting.

The Practice of Self-Mastery

• Just start. Start small, on purpose. One set. One lap. Five minutes..

• Remove motivation from the equation. Show up whether you feel like it or not.

• Interrupt restlessness the moment you notice it. Start instead of switching.

• Treat every moment as a fresh start, no accounting, no catching up.
  
  CHEAT CODE:  START → DO ONE SMALL THING → LET IT CONTINUE IF IT DOES → REPEAT TOMORROW