In the past few weeks I have had several conversations with potential clients about their dreams and the multitude of ideas they have flowing through their minds at any given moment.  With so many ideas and so much creativity, they are finding themselves paralyzed and unsure of what to tackle first.  It is sort of like seeing your to-do list with 15 different things on it and not really knowing where to begin, so you just don’t do anything.

Have you been there before?

I think it is something that happens to many of us when overwhelm sets in.  Just taking that first step can be scary and is enough to cause you to ignore it and procrastinate even more.

So where do you start?

I find it much easier to start with the small stuff and use that to build momentum for the bigger things.

But what if it all feels like ‘big stuff’?

That is a valid question considering when we first set out to accomplish our dreams, they can often feel like huge mountains to get over, but if you can take a step back for a moment and look at the bigger picture, you might be able to make out a tiny first step.  If you still are having trouble, hiring a coach or chatting with someone about your ideas can help put your thoughts to rest a bit more so you can take the first step.

The truth is, what you do in that first step matters less than the fact that you just begin.  When I took the leap to begin my coaching practice, my early first steps entailed a ton of research.  I looked at coaching programs, various coaches, credentials, coaching philosophies, and even contacted two coaches to talk to them about the work they do.  Some of my other small steps included just writing down all of my ideas, coming up with a name for my website, and getting a bare bones website up and running.  Some of those steps took mere moments to complete while others took upwards of a week or more, but every time I sat down to work on it, I felt like I was making progress and that led to more momentum.

Still need help deciding what those first steps might be?  Check out the examples below.

• You want to start a website, but are unsure of how to set it up or if there will be any interest.  Small step:  Set up a FB page first.  It’s easy to do and you can build your community there before you launch your site.

• You have some artwork, crafts, or handmade jewelry that you want to sell, but the idea of setting up an Etsy account makes you break into a cold sweat.  Small step: Find a local craft fair to sell your stuff through or talk to your friends and family members about what you are making. You can also set up a FB page for your crafts and sell it that way.

• You want to become a yoga instructor, write about yoga, and open your own yoga/meditation center, but you aren’t sure about how the yoga training works, how much it costs, and are overwhelmed with the idea of doing it all and question whether you can.  Small Step: Ask one of your yoga instructors some questions about their training experience and how they did it.  Pick their brain regarding some of your ideas and utilize the vast amount of experience and info they can provide to you.

The truth is no matter how many dreams/goals you have accomplished, there are always going to be more, so take it step-by-step and start small.  And if you find yourself at a loss for where to begin and what to do to get started, feel free to set up an introductory coaching session with me.  I am happy to chat with you about untangling the web of ideas you have in your head that might be keeping your paralyzed.  In fact, I love helping clients break their big, bold dreams into bite size steps that result in a big win!  Let me help you do the same.

If you are interested in what coaching can do for you please sign up for your introductory session here.  Also, don’t forget that my very Inspired Giveaway will be ending TOMORROW so head over here to sign up for your chance to win a copy of Inspired & Unstoppable by Tama Kieves.