“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968)

I remember when my children learned to walk; when they took those first tentative steps with complete faith. Sure, they toppled a few times, but they didn’t let that stop them from getting up and trying again. Soon they were walking like seasoned professionals, happy and self-assured with their newfound ability.

Life is filled with “first steps.” However, sometimes we are so worried about toppling that we can’t bring ourselves to take that first step. We may worry that we’ll fail, or that we are making the wrong decision.

But taking that first step doesn’t have to be a scary process. We can start simply by writing down exactly what it is we want to move toward.

Step One – Know what you want and write it down.

Do you know what you want? If you do, then you are in the minority, for most of us don’t know what we want. We only know what we don’t want. If you can’t figure out exactly what it is you do want, then start with a list of what you don’t want, and give it a positive spin (for example: “I don’t want to work at this horrible job anymore” becomes positive when you rephrase it “I want a job that excites and simulates me.”)

Step Two – Organize your list.

Now that you have your “wants” list, number them according to level of desire (example – number 1 would be your greatest desire, number 2 your second greatest desire, and so on.)

Step Three – Describe in great detail your “Top 5.”

Now take your top five desires and write a couple of paragraphs describing each one in great detail in the present tense. Writing it out in the present tense is very important, as this information goes straight into our subconscious as the truth (whether we believe it or not!).

Step Four – Read and re-read your list several times a day.

The more you read this list, the more embedded it becomes in your subconscious. This is a really good thing, because the more your subconscious mind is exposed to it, the more easily you will be inspired to take action to attain your desire.

Sometimes we don’t take that first step because we don’t have the inspiration to do so, but as author Jack London once said “You can’t wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” By following these very simple steps, you will find yourself both inspired and moving toward attaining your desires.