The most important thing is to start

One of the harder tasks to accomplish in life is finding your “why”. Purpose is an elusive mistress that has the potential to change one’s life from a mundane existence to a truly exciting and liberating experience. But discovering our why isn’t an easy task. How do we discover our purpose? Does it come to us in a dream or in some massive epiphany? Sometimes. But that’s hardly a reliable method of consistently figuring out the way forward, and most importantly, it’s not a very reliable way to get started.

Time has a compounding effect on whatever we are trying to build. The sooner you get started saving, for example, the more rewards you are bound to reap in retirement. Not only will the end result be more fruitful, but you will learn valuable lessons along the way. To this end, it doesn’t matter if you start with savings $1 every week, or $1000, the life lessons are the same, and in the end, the most important thing is that you started!

Sometimes our brains trick us into believing that we can’t take a step forward without having a complete road map of what’s next. Even having too many options can have a similar paralyzing effect. Unfortunately, life doesn’t work in this linear fashion. Life is full of uncertainty, and risk, and contradicting lessons. It’s just as much about the journey as it is the final destination, and just as much about learning as it is doing. So how can we ensure that the journey is motivating and meaningful? Constant creativity and relentless execution, even when the road ahead isn’t clear. Creating is a gift within itself. Creativity’s value is more than the end result. It’s value is also all of the learning you pick up along the way! You don’t need passion or a purpose to create, all you need is a little bit of motivation to get started. Get started on what you may ask? Anything at all

Motivation has a similar compounding effect. Every small task that you accomplish instills a deep confidence that you have the ability to accomplish the next, and that’s the muscle we are training here. Training this muscle will have a lasting effect on the trajectory of your life. There’s an awesome quote: “how you do one thing, is how you do everything”. Think of your creations as trips to the gym. You are in training. And naturally, to get the most out of your session, you need to train hard.

So I challenge you today: Start something. Anything. And stick with it enough to learn the valuable lessons in store for you.