Have you ever had trouble getting started on a project? Maybe it feels overwhelming, with too many steps and you don’t know where to begin. Or perhaps it’s something you’ve never tried before and you're not sure how to do it. Or maybe it’s simply some task that you don’t enjoy or even seems onerous.

It makes sense that it might feel difficult to get started under any of those circumstances. I know I can run into my own blocks and distraction tactics when I face similar challenges.

So how do we move forward? That’s something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately as I work on a large and new to me project. One tool I use is simply to follow the breadcrumbs. And it’s our use of those breadcrumbs that gives them their magic.

So if I’m feeling overwhelmed because I’m thinking about all the steps at once and feeling confused on where to start, or I’m telling myself I don’t know how to do it (both of which are protective ways our minds use to avoid working too hard) then I just start with the first step.

Because the reality is, if I break it down, while it may be true that I don’t know all the steps or maybe even not steps 2, 3, and 4, I can discover those steps by starting at the first step. Like breadcrumbs in a forest that helps us find our way, we might not be able to see the next breadcrumb till we get to the vantage point of the one before it. And from there we can discover the next and the next and the next.

And just like breadcrumbs ability to provide a little sustenance for our journey, each completed step can give us not only the vantage point from which to see the next step but also a little hit of dopamine to motivate and energize us to get to the next step.

Perhaps that first step is simply sitting down at our desk, or it’s opening up the instructions, or it’s exploring what resources we need. Whatever it is, when we allow ourselves to take that first step, the next step comes more easily. Along the way, we also build trust in ourselves to be able to handle what we are doing and if we chose, can take pride in and celebrate each step along the way which again further motivates us to move forward.

What’s something you want to move forward on? What’s the first step “easy” step you can take to get closer to the finish line. Drop me a note, I’d love to hear what you're working on, where you get lost and what helps you move forward.

Unlock the magic in those breadcrumbs and take your next step.

If you'd like additional support in moving past what keeps you stuck, reach out and let’s have a conversation.

The first step is you have to say that you can. - Will Smith

Faith is taking the first step even when you can't see the whole staircase.
- Martin Luther King Jr.