The hardest part isn’t finishing – it’s starting.

I remember visiting Los Angeles as a kid from 1980s New Zealand and being completely overwhelmed by the vast array of breakfast cereals in the aisle of the local supermarket. So many options, so many colours, so many varieties of corn, sucrose and cartoon character endorsers, that I couldn’t choose any.

Sometimes having too many possibilities paralyses us from making any decision at all.

The same thing happens with our projects. We see the enormity of what we want to accomplish and become so overwhelmed that we never put on our climbing gear. We analyse the mountain instead of taking the first step up it.

Other times, we can’t start because our current habits haven’t created space for new patterns. If your life is already full of unhealthy routines, where will the energy for positive change come from?

Ecclesiastes 11:4 – “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.”

Here’s what helps: make the finish line so appealing that its aroma motivates you past the starting line. If the reward of completion is sweeter than the comfort of your current situation, you’ll find the motivation to begin.

But you have to begin somewhere. Pick any reasonable starting point rather than searching for the perfect one. The “best” place to start is usually wherever you are, with whatever you have, right now.

Don’t let the height of the mountain intimidate you from putting on your boots. Every peak was reached one step at a time, and every journey began with someone deciding that staying put was less appealing than moving forward.