Moving forward: One small step at the time 2/12

The morning after a strange, almost surreal encounter with what felt like five fragmented parts of myself, I woke with an unexpected lightness. For the first time in ages, my next steps felt clear. I sat at my kitchen table, a cold cup of coffee in front of me, and jotted down what I wanted from life. It was a simple act, but it grounded me. Yet, as I stared at those words, the familiar weight of self-doubt and exhaustion crept back. Grief over not being "responsible enough," a stalled career, and a gnawing sense of purposelessness began to pin me down again.

This wasn’t new. Since childhood, I’d carried a heavy sense of guilt, second-guessing every decision, every action. I always felt like I was sinking, inadequate, and unworthy. Could I really write a book? It seemed absurd, something I’d never dared to dream. Back then, I didn’t have names for the challenges I faced—ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. All I knew was that stringing together long sentences felt impossible. My handwriting was a scrawl, my thoughts a jumble. I was suspicious of my mind, ashamed of my "psychological indifferences," as if they were a family secret no one wanted exposed. Auditing my life felt like a cruel joke—how could someone like me create anything worthwhile?

But that morning, something shifted. It was not a sudden surge of inspiration, but a quiet, unwavering determination. I picked up a pen and wrote one sentence. Just one. It was clumsy and uninspired, but it was mine. That messy sentence was my first step out of the darkness. It didn’t erase the pain or silence the doubt, but it gave me something to hold onto—a faint spark of momentum.

Looking back, I see that small act as the cornerstone of my book, a project that would come to define my journey of healing and growth. Today, I want to share how that single step changed everything, why starting small is grounded in science, and how you can take your own first step toward something meaningful.

The Science of Starting Small

When I wrote that sentence, I had no grand vision of finishing a book. I didn’t even know what kind of book I might write or that this small act would lead to a transformational work. I was simply trying to break free from the toxic cycle of bad habits and inertia that had trapped me. Dark moments have a way of making even the smallest actions feel insurmountable. But psychology shows that small, persistent steps are the key to lasting change. In Atomic Habits, James Clear explains that tiny, consistent actions compound over time, like a snowball rolling downhill. A 1% improvement each day can lead to exponential growth. For me, that one sentence became a paragraph the next day, then a page, and eventually a chapter. With each step, the power of persistence became undeniable.

This is rooted in the concept of “activation energy” in psychology—the initial effort needed to start a task. The lower the barrier, the easier it is to begin. Writing one sentence felt achievable, even as life’s challenges swirled around me like a snowflake caught in a storm. That tiny act sidestepped the paralyzing fear of failure because it was so small it barely seemed to matter. But it did. Each small step built momentum, rewiring my brain to see progress as not just possible, but inevitable.

My First Step and What It Taught Me

That rainy spring morning, I didn’t just write a sentence—I made a choice to show up for myself, even if imperfectly. It wasn’t about talent or inspiration; it was about refusing to stay stuck, despite life pulling me toward jobs and business ventures that overshadowed my writing. That decision became a cornerstone of my book, where I explore how small acts of courage can lead to transformative change. The sentence itself? The sentence was terrible; it conveyed the ache of starting over. But it was mine, and it marked the moment I began to reclaim my story.

What I learned is that the first step doesn’t have to be perfect or even good. It just has to be yours. It’s less about the action itself and more about the shift in mindset: from “I can’t” to “I’ll will’’, ‘’I must.”

Keeping a promise to oneself is paramount. That shift, subtle as it was, carried me through years of learning writing, revising, and navigating self-doubt to complete my book, even as I juggled other demands.

How You Can Take Your First Step

If you’re feeling stuck—whether in a creative project, a personal goal, or just life—here’s how you can start small and build momentum:

• Choose One Tiny Action: Pick something so small it feels almost silly. Want to write? Write one sentence. Want to get healthier? Walk for five minutes or audit your refrigerator. Get rid of harmful, unhealthy foods. Want to declutter? Make your bed, clean your room, and clear one drawer. The goal is to make it impossible to fail.

• Lower the Stakes: Tell yourself it doesn’t have to be perfect. My first sentence was awful, and that was fine. The point is to start, not to impress. As long as you persist, the next step will come naturally; you won't even need to overthink it.

• Anchor It to a Cue: Tie your action to an existing habit or moment. I wrote my sentence after my morning coffee. James Clear calls this “habit stacking”—using an established routine to trigger a new one. Start stacking your new habits, replacing old with new.

• Celebrate the Win: Acknowledge your effort, no matter how small. I scribbled a smiley face next to my sentence, a goofy way to mark the moment. Thanking myself for the achievements in gratitude. Celebrating reinforces the behavior.

• Repeat Tomorrow: Consistency beats intensity. Do your tiny action again the next day. Over time, it’ll grow into something bigger than you imagined.

Try this: This week, please consider identifying one small habit you can begin. Maybe it’s five minutes of meditation, a single journal entry, or a quick sketch. Commit to doing it once, then see where it takes you.

A Glimpse Into My Book: THE MORPH Alchemy of The Animal

That first sentence I wrote? It evolved into a chapter in my book, one that dives into the messy, beautiful process of starting over. My book, set to launch in just a few months, is a collection of stories and insights from my own personal journey—moments of doubt, discovery, and resilience. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost and wondered if they could find their way again. I can’t wait to share it with you, and I hope it inspires you to take your own first steps toward whatever dream you’re chasing.

Keep moving forward

Taking that first step didn’t solve everything. There were still days when doubt crept in, when the darkness felt too heavy. However, the simple act of writing a single sentence served as a reminder that I possessed the ability to progress, even if it was only by a small step. Alan Watts once stated that the only way to understand change is to embrace it, adapt to it, and embrace the journey. It’s not about speed or perfection—it’s about embracing the flow of life and persisting, step by step, without giving up.

Could you please share what your initial step will be? I’d love to hear about it—share in the comments or drop me a message. Let’s take these small steps together toward a life that feels a little brighter, a little more ours.

Next week, I’ll share how I faced my biggest fear while writing my book and what it taught me about courage.

This post is part of a 12-week series chronicling my journey from darkness to completing my book. Follow along every Monday for new stories, insights, and tips to inspire your own path. Want to stay updated on the book launch? Join my newsletter at themorph88.com or follow me on X @TheMorph88