Commiting to and arriving at the starting line.

I think a lot about how sheltered our lives have become, especially those of us who live in the relative comfort of the first world. It’s hard to let go of creature comforts or to vary the consistency of routines that we are ensconced within.

Above all, its hard to commit to something that makes us feel ever more vulnerable, exposed to our demons and/or pushing up against hard constraints in our life circumstances.

I personally don’t set out to seek this feeling of discomfort. It comes as a natural byproduct of testing my boundaries, challenging my perceptions / beliefs, learning something new, reviving something nascent or dormant.

All of these endeavours require thoughtful consideration about the purpose of such an undertaking and then action with clear motivation. Action requires intentional progression. Progression requires a starting point. The starting point is often far more daunting in nature than the subsequent experience.

Merely making the commitment to begin is often the biggest hurdle.

So many questions test our resolve. In my personal experience, all the questions are about the unknown. The completely unpredictable nature of an adventure.

What might happen? How will I perform? What if things don’t go to plan? What if I fail? What if I’m not good enough? Will I get hurt?

Also in my experience, I tend to consider externalities. What if I let them down? What if they are not fulfilled by what we achieve? Why are they even considering me as a good partner on this mission?

The questions can sometimes dominate the simple desire to enjoy an experience.

Fear of the unknown can dominate the highly likely possibility of enjoyment.

Through many attempts, I have bumbled and stumbled into my own way to set the wheels of adventure in motion.

0. Know why you want to do this.
1. Go with a friend.
2. Be completely honest about your perceived limitations and hopes for the outcome.
3. Ponder the questions that daunt you. Don’t let them overshadow the joy, happiness, hardship, elation, pain you will feel. Feel it all.
4. Think of the simplest or smallest thing you can do to take the first step. It might be seem absurd. Just begin with the simplest or smallest thing that familiarises you with the next step.
5. Then take the next step, then the next. Be intentional. Be thoughtful. Lean into the experience and yield to it.
6. Expect things not to go to plan. Refer to point 0 above often when things don’t go to plan.
7. Do the work to prepare. Practice, incrementally iterate, repeat.
8. Immerse yourself and relish in the work itself, not letting the outcome dominate your focus.
9. Adjust, improve. Adapt. Intentional and thoughtful effort requires a highly observant approach. Be aware of yourself and your surroundings.
10. Surround yourself with people who celebrate you and your little wins, while calling you on your shit.
11. Seek input from those around you. Test your perception of reality.
12. Go gently. Keep going.
13. Make sure you rest well. Laugh, play, relax.
14. Sometimes, just push as hard as you possibly can. Go peek at your limits. You might be surprised.
15. Then, when it’s time … just do the thing. You will be fine.