It may seem difficult at first

It may seem difficult at first, but everything is difficult at first.

As part of my upcoming trip to Japan, we shall be taking some lessons from Bushido, The Way of the Samurai Warrior.

Clients often come to me and say they did something and failed, or were extremely nervous when they did it, or had anxiety about doing it. I always ask them if this was the first time, and often it was.

One of my earliest happy memories, was of me learning to ride a bike for the first time, I remember it because it was the first time I remember being supported and encouraged in anything. It was an old bike, no gears, solid tyres, and it was in the cobbled back lane of my grandmothers terrace house. My uncle and two aunties, who weren't much older than me, were yelling "you can do it". At first I managed to ride it straight, but fell off when turning in the narrow lane, but eventually I was able to ride straight and turn and keep riding. I've loved cycling ever since, riding all over the countryside, competing in many charity events and even a race, where I did not come anywhere near last! (And yes, that's me below)

Back to the topic, everything is difficult at first, whether it be riding a bike, or setting goals. It takes time, it takes effort, it takes practice, it takes persistence. If you do not succeed the first time, it is normal, you are not a failure, you did not fail, you learnt what not to do, that is all. Every time you do the thing, you get better and better.

As a coach, I help people with their goal setting and planning, I felt like a fraud. I knew all the techniques and methods for goal setting, yet did not apply them to myself. There was a fear of failure, or ridicule, or perhaps even success. But I know that everything is difficult at first. So I did it. It was shaky at first, but I started slowly, and surely, it became easier. Now it is a pleasure to look back on the year that has passed and see how many goals have been achieved.

So what if you don't achieve your goals? Exactly. So what?! There is always next year. Or maybe that goal is no longer important to you.

The thing about goals is, its not the goal that's important, it's who you become as you strive to achieve that goal.