Falling down sucks, particularly if you’ve climbed a little higher since the last time you fell down. It hurts more. The bruises and scrapes are little deeper.

Then the mental games begin. And they’re far worse than the physical ones.

You did it before. Why can’t you now?

Lots of other people don’t let this stop them.

You’re just lazy and want a shortcut. You’re not willing to put in the effort.

All true in weak moments, but not reflective of the real you.

It feels like being stuck in mud as far as you can see. It takes all your strength to simply stand up, and then there’s no clear path out. It’s frustrating and exhausting.

What to do?

  • Sit and mope for a while, waiting for the motivation to do more.
  • Repeat several times.
  • Realize that’s not helping.
  • Decide to do something – anything.

As the Japanese Proverb says: Fall down 7, get up 8. It’s really that simple.

Not easy by any stretch, but simple.

As I was wallowing in the mud, I remembered a book I’d read several months ago. (In fact, I’d read it in DFW Airport as I was getting over being groped by the TSA. Another “mud” moment.)

Something in the back of my mind recalled the general concept of the diagram below.

In The 1% Solution, Tom Connellan offers a twist on the general view of motivation leading to action.  What if the reverse is the real truth? Connellan proposes that, “The more you get done, the more motivated you are to do things. So you do more things, and you get even more motivated. It’s a self-feeding cycle.”

I decided to try it. In fact, I’m doing that today.

I don’t “feel” like writing. I “feel” overwhelmed with all that’s going on in my life, mostly positive, but some big challenges too. To tell you the truth, I outlined this post a week ago, and it’s taken me all that time to overcome the resistance to finish and publish it. I can”t really explain the pushback, but it’s certainly there.

Step one for me is simply starting again.

Is there a first step you need to take today too?