The Best Way to Succeed... Is to Start

2-Minute Read

The biggest barrier standing between us and any meaningful goal isn’t a lack of talent or determination. It’s simply the hesitation to start.

The act of starting is often tougher mentally than physically. Our brains magnify the anticipated discomfort, anxiety, and uncertainty before we even begin—making the first step feel harder than the entire journey itself. Yet, once we start, everything changes. Momentum builds naturally. Confidence rises. Progress happens.

Here’s why simply getting started is the key to long-term success:

The Mental Barrier: Why is Starting So Hard?

When faced with a challenging task, the brain has a fascinating (though frustrating) habit of exaggerating the difficulty before we've even begun. It magnifies fear, discomfort, and uncertainty.

This psychological phenomenon can create an enormous sense of dread or resistance, turning even simple tasks into seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This anticipation—waiting and imagining the difficulty—is far harder than the reality itself.

Recognizing that this barrier is psychological (and temporary) is crucial. It’s not the task itself that’s intimidating—it’s the anticipation that holds us back.

Action Breaks the Fear Loop

The moment we take action, something powerful happens: the fear loop breaks.

Taking even the smallest action instantly reduces anxiety and uncertainty. It brings clarity, a sense of control, and confidence. Think about how quickly your mindset shifts after just a few steps into a long run. Before starting, you may feel dread, discomfort, or hesitation—but 60 seconds in, that feeling is dramatically reduced. The same principle applies to almost every difficult task in life.

The key is not to wait for the fear or uncertainty to disappear (because they won’t)—it’s to start despite it. Action, not thinking, is what reduces fear.

Start Smaller than You Think

If starting feels overwhelming, make your first step absurdly small—smaller than you think is necessary:

• If you dread your long run, commit to running literally 5 minutes, and see what happens.

• If strength training feels intimidating, commit only to one set. The heaviest thing at the gym is the front door.

• If you struggle with writing, commit only to a single sentence.
  
  

These tiny steps might seem trivial, but they’re incredibly powerful. They eliminate resistance because starting small lowers the mental barrier. Once we begin, we usually exceed our minimal commitment because the hardest part (starting) is behind us. The momentum takes care of the rest.

Consistency is the Real Key

When we consistently take action—no matter how small—we build new habits and reshape our identity. Each time we start, we reinforce the belief: “I’m someone who takes action.” This mental shift reduces friction in the future, making subsequent actions easier.

Consistently starting small actions inevitably leads to bigger accomplishments. We don't have to rely on motivation. We simply need to begin.

Wrap It Up

Every big achievement begins exactly the same way: a single small step.

The secret to success in running, training, or life is not intensity or perfection—it’s consistently taking the initial action. By lowering our expectations for the first step and simply starting, we set ourselves up for long-term growth, satisfaction, and eventual success.

And with this mindset, we can build a routine we love and train consistently. Because with consistency, we build passion.