I don't claim to be an expert on the subject, either, but I did want to share some of my own insight, in the hopes that it might spawn some ideas of your own, perhaps some motivation for whatever journey you are on right now.
Every journey begins with a single step. Dr. Robert Schuller said that "...beginning is half done!" And that is so true! Actually taking the first step - starting out, taking the first bit of action, really beginning - is about 50% of your journey! Thousands and thousands (if not millions) of people every day have ideas, inspiration, dreams and desires that they want to achieve, and some of them even decide to do something about them.
But a decision isn't enough: you have to take action! Move! If your goal is business, or education, or a relationship you want to improve....whatever it is, the journey begins not when you say you are going to start, not when you decide to start, not when you believe the timing is right. No, the actual journey only starts when you take action, and take the first step.
I would dare say that a good majority of people never even start. I'd call it 80%. And of the 20% that actually do take action, I would say that probably only 20% of those people make it any further than step #1.
Why?
Journeys are hard. If your goal is a really worthwhile attainment of something special, of something that means something to you in your heart of hearts, than you have to expect that it will be a hard journey. Most people take the first action step...and then stop. Fear, worry, doubt, negative influences of other people telling you that you will fail, they have the power to stop you.
Don't let them!
Here is the bottom line that you need to know. Look back at the proverb: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Does that give you the impression that after one step, the next 999.99 miles are a breeze? Do you imagine that for the second step the person on the journey is rocketed, magically teleported, or otherwise shot to the finish line? No! The journey begins with a single step! So how do you get the rest of the distance?
By taking one more step.
Just one! Don't worry about step #3 right now, just finish the second step! Now, once you have completed step #2, don't try to skip over to step #10. It won't work! Finish step #3! And if you make it, then you can try.....step #4. And so on, and so on.
What I am trying to say is that you need to take every measure of your journey towards success one day at a time, because regardless of your particular endeavour, your goal is to succeed, right? Each and every day, choose your behaviour, choose your attitude, and choose what action you will take to complete the next step. Not ten steps, not fifty miles...just the next step, because the only thing you can affect is what is available for you to do right now, today.
There are dozens of books that speak on this topic. Read them! One of my favourites is "The Slight Edge", by Jeff Olson, and another classic is "Peak to Peek", by Dr Robert Schuller, but there are many more.
I wish you great success on your journey! Here is an Irish blessing for your journey to leave you with:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face, and rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
