I slip into the water and begin.
One lap.
Two.
Three.
My arms are aching. My strokes feel awkward. The distance I’ve come to swim seems like too far today.
But I push.
I keep going.
Because I know that at a certain point everything will change. After a number of laps–the same amount every time–my breathing will even out, my strokes will become smooth, and I’ll feel like I can swim forever.
The hard part is not quitting before I get to that point.
Life feels a lot like that too sometimes, doesn’t it? Whenever we start something new or try to push toward a goal or dare to follow a dream it always feels awkward at first.
We say to ourselves, “What was I thinking? I can’t do this. It’s too much for me.” So we stop. But what if we’ve given up just before the point when everything changes?
I’m saying to you, and to myself too, let’s keep going.
Here are three ways to do so:
Do the next thing. It doesn’t matter how small–take a step, pick up the phone, write down a goal. Just do something, anything, to keep from stopping completely.
Tell someone. Discouragement grows stronger in the dark. If you feel like quitting or giving up, share those feelings with someone you trust who can put them in perspective.
Look how far you’ve come. Take a moment to reflect on where you started and where you are now. If you’ve made it to here, you can make it all the way.
I finally finish my swim.
I step onto the cool tile floor. I’m not racing anyone today but I feel like I’ve beaten my toughest opponent.
Me.
And tomorrow I’ll have to do it again.
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