Believe in yourself: thousand-mile journey begins with a single step in right direction

The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said: “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.

I remember the first step I took when starting my own business 16 years ago. If I had not taken that first step, my journey would have remained a dream.

You must take that first step. Once you do, each step takes you closer to your goal.

Sometimes, when you consider taking on a new venture, the task can seem overwhelming. It’s as though you’ll never arrive at your final destination. When you look too far out towards the horizon, it can seem too difficult.

The trick to success is simple. Just begin.

Take a single step, followed by another and another. The first step can often be the most challenging, as it requires us to step out of our comfort zones and face the unknown.

The act of taking this first step holds immense power, as it signifies the beginning of a transformative journey and demonstrates our commitment to personal growth.

One of the most significant barriers preventing individuals from taking that first step is the fear of the unknown. However, by accepting uncertainty and embracing the concept of continuous learning, we can overcome this fear and move forward with confidence.

There may be setbacks and obstacles along the way: embracing the journey will mean developing resilience and perseverance to overcome these obstacles and use them as opportunities to grow. There may be self-doubt and uncertainty but if you don’t take that first step you will never know and regret not taking it.

We may have negative people around us, and it can be difficult but I want to leave you with a story that will always stay with me. It is a story of a little frog that wanted to reach the top of the tree and all the frogs shouted “It’s impossible, it’s impossible!” Still the frog reached the top.

How? Because he was deaf and he thought everyone was encouraging him to reach the top. The moral of the story is be deaf to negativity if you want to reach the top.

I encourage you to take that first step, believe in yourself, it might be a bumpy ride in the beginning but you can do anything you put your mind to.

Find your comfort zone there is nothing wrong with comfort. It is safe, stable and you don’t have to deal with the consequences of taking risks. However, there are many examples where taking a risk pays off and can lead to something amazing.

Regularly testing your comfort zone, trying things that feel like a bigger challenge but without putting yourself under pressure, leads to growth.

It’s about finding the balance and spending enough time in your comfort zone that you feel secure, while stretching yourself enough that you keep growing.

If you need to reach out, contact SADAG toll-free line suicide helpline 0800-567-567 (24 hours), or CIPLA mental health helpline 0800-456789, CIPLA WhatsApp line from 9am-4pm, 076-882-2775.

You can also SMS SADAG 31393, available 24 hours.