On Starting Well
My favorite part of the day is the morning. Regardless what time I roll out of bed and grab my pre-brewed coffee, there is a sense of the unknown, of possibility. It is in these first moments of the morning that I recognize that nearly anything is possible for that day.
A quick Google search yields numerous definitions of the word “possibility,” but one definition in particular is enthralling: “unspecified qualities of a promising nature; potential.” At certain times of the year such as New Year’s Day or the beginning of a new academic year, it is natural to take a moment, pause, reflect and consider the possibilities. Often, setting “goals” or “resolutions” is a part of this process: pondering what we want the end of this set period to look like. However, the beginning is typically overlooked. That first step along the way. I’ll never forget one of the last things my Dad said to me when he dropped me off for my freshman year of college: “The first semester is the hardest.” I didn’t believe him as I only considered his words from an academic perspective. Yet, now I think back years since standing in that parking lot and I realize the purpose of my father’s words were not about course difficulty or even college at all. Instead, his advice focuses on the newness of human experience: whenever we attempt something that we’ve never done before, the first part will always be the most difficult.
The universality of his counsel rings more true than ever today. We are all new at something. (For example: None of us have experienced a global pandemic…) Yet, there are a few practical steps that make the adjustment process easier. These are neither groundbreaking nor novel, yet their value is certain.
When you’re taking on a new challenge, the first thing you must do is take the smallest step. When trying to accomplish a monumental feat like running a marathon, you still have to cross that starting line. Every endeavor starts somewhere. Find your starting point and just go. You’ll make some mistakes along the way, and that is part of the learning process. You’ll grow from them. Second, create a plan. Get help as you craft your plan, write it down and put it in your schedule. Then, build your support crew. No great endeavor was accomplished alone, and when it is hard to stick to your plan, you’ll have a cheerleading team behind you to help you keep going.
Here at GoodCo at the University of Kansas, we’re undergoing our start with Thursday Thoughts. We’re embracing our potential. We hope you’ll join us.
Good Company is a ministry at the University of Kansas. We seek to bring authentic connection in a world of AirPods.