Why Starting is the Hardest Part

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about starting. About how, so often, we put so many roadblocks in our own way when it comes to the things we want to do.

I’ll start wearing clothes I love once I lose that weight.

I’ll spend time working on my house once I have the budget to replace the floors.

I’ll slow down and take care of myself more once the kids are a little more independent.

I think I first started thinking about it the day that I shared a video on Instagram of me working while walking on my walking pad (aka: my best friend). I received a message where someone shared feeling inspired to see me walking in my regular clothes. I hadn’t changed into anything special to move my body - I just did it in what I was wearing.

That message has replayed over and over again in my head as I’ve received more similar ones over the last few months. I mentioned recently that I had done yoga in jeans one day because I just wanted to get it done and I knew that if I had to change, it would never happen. I received a flood of messages from people talking about how impactful it is to realize you don’t have to change into workout clothes to move your body or put these arbitrary rules in place to do the things you want.

Sometimes we get in our own way. Isn’t it actually better to do the thing imperfectly than not do it at all?

Ever since then, I’ve been thinking about what else we make a little harder than it needs to be. What nonsensical rules have I placed on myself that stop me from my goals? How am I getting in my own way?