Have you experienced trouble putting the first stroke on the canvas, so to speak? If so, here are 5 things to consider.

We all do it… we set goals with the expectation to follow through. We start the project, join the gym, make our plans and put our stake in the ground; determined that this time it will happen. Our intentions are good, but when they meet resistance the result is often unmet goals.

Last week I made a personal commitment to write a blog post every Monday and post it on Tuesday. Right now it’s Tuesday morning and I am just now starting to write. Why??? Why didn’t I follow through yesterday like I so boldly committed to last week?

I’d love to tell you that I have an excuse and I could come up with a few good ones.  Yet, truth be known, I can only blame myself.  I am the one who didn’t follow through on my own commitment; but why? What was holding me back from doing what I really want to do; what I set out to do?

As I considered this, I thought about a time in my life when I explored a career as an artist. It was something I was passionate about, but I often found my passion lacked follow through.  I would have an idea for a painting, gather all my supplies and plan a day to paint. Then… blank canvas in front of me I would suddenly feel compelled to unload the dishwasher, start a load of laundry or return a phone call. I just couldn’t bring myself to start.

Why did I let the mundane override my dreams and goals? Perhaps it was my own insecurities about the outcome or simply my own laziness. Either way the thing holding me back was me.

Why is it that we know what we need to do to reach our goals, but we are unable to muster the will power to achieve them?

While I never became the artist I set out to be, I did learn a valuable lesson about will power through art. Despite my procrastination, something amazing would happen as soon as I put the first stroke on the canvas… my creative juices would ignite and before I knew it I had a completed painting. Through this I learned that unless I started somewhere, it wasn’t going to happen.

So… today I determined to put the first stroke on the blank canvas of my computer screen. It’s amazing to see what God can do when we take the first step.

What about you? Have you experienced trouble putting the first stroke on the canvas so to speak? If so, here are 5 things to consider:

1. It will never happen unless you start it.
2. Quit worrying about the end result and focus on the first step.
3. Ignore the dishes in the sink. (At least for a little while.)
4. Remember the reason you set the goal.
5. Find someone to hold you accountable.

The only thing holding back you and me from achieving our goals and dreams is… you and me. When we put away our excuses, stop doubting our ability and give the end results to God it’s easy to take the first step.