"The beginning is the most important part of the work," as the great philosopher Plato once stated. If you never take action, how can you hope to achieve great things? "If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late," remarked LinkedIn creator Reid Hoffman. The remarkably intelligent men's quotes all convey the same message.

Never wait for the "perfect moment." Get going NOW.

The Element of Surprise ~

If Plato were giving you advice today, he would advise you to stop delaying and start immediately, forsaking excuses. There won't be any progress achieved unless you begin. This makes me think of the expression used by professional players, "You miss every shot you don't take." Enormous activity is necessary for advancement. You either accept it or live the rest of your life in limbo, never quite reaching your objectives. But isn't it difficult to accomplish goals if you don't take any action to get there? 

Surprises captivate us, make us laugh uncontrollably, upset our sense of reason, and dispel our preconceptions about how things should work. Increased playfulness, exploration, adventure, openness, humor, spontaneity, and fun are examples of intentional novelty that may be included in daily life to foster more connections and associations that spark creative ideas. The most challenging element is getting things started. After that, you may increase your momentum by continuing to take action, learn new things, and gain experience. You'll experience the "snowball effect" very soon. Take the first step, whatever that may be, and get going. ACT NOW on this. Not next week, nor the day after that. NOW ! Follow the right path all the way. Daily tweaks to your method should be made, but never stop working on the task at hand. Action and feedback is necessary to determine what needs to be adjusted.

The Fear Clarified: Why Is This the Case?
Fear strikes at an inconvenient time. There will be fear from the time you formulate your strategy until you take action on it. Once you take the first step, it will go, and you'll see how pointless the emotion is. Why does it sometimes take such an emotional toll when we attempt something for the first time? Our dread of failing would be our initial stage. Shame is a common consequence of failure, and we detest this emotion. Shame shatters the fragile stained glass picture of our "self" that our ego has worked so hard to construct. After a setback, we might also have feelings of inadequacy stemming from the fear that others may perceive us as "lesser." Our ego doesn't feel comfortable with that idea. One more fissure in the glass. However, I believe we can define our fear of failing more precisely. More specifically, the anxiety that comes with trying anything for the first time. When attempting to step outside of your comfort zone, the toughest thing is always having the guts to start. It is considerably harder to start than to get better. The fear of anxiousness is debilitating. Your desire and passion might truly come to a grinding halt when you consider that you probably started too late and that you'll never catch up. You'll make an effort to look up the information you need to "learn first" before you begin, but the truth is, once you start looking, there will be a lot more of it. You'll quickly become an enthusiast for something you don't even know how to accomplish since there is always something new to learn.

Ways to Overcome Procrastination ~

1. Lessen the Amount of Choices You Have to Make All Day.

Every choice we make has an impact on energy. You're going to waste the entire day delaying things if you get up in the morning and have to ask yourself, "What do I need to do today?" You will waste a lot of energy worrying about what to do and what not to do when you approach each new day without having thought out how you want it to appear beforehand. The issue is that when we are asked a question, we are forced to answer it, which forces us to decide. You lose all self-control and get exhausted as a result, which causes you to put off doing the things that are most important to you. The first tip for preventing procrastination is to minimize the number of decisions you have to make in a given day by making them in advance and/or forming routines around specific aspects of your life to increase your productivity and stop you from expending energy on debating whether to do something or not.

2. The Option of Nothing. 

Raymond Chandler, one of the most prominent authors of crime fiction, is credited with coining the procrastination avoidance strategy known as "The Nothing Alternative." He did it to keep himself from putting off his daily writing. Chandler found it impossible, unlike some great authors, to sit down at the keyboard and produce a certain number of words every day. He then devised a different strategy to overcome his procrastination and force himself to do the work: he would set aside four hours each morning and issue a challenge to himself: "WRITE, OR DO NOTHING AT ALL."
Chandler lived by that concept, and it was effective for him. The guidelines are quite simple to understand:
A) You are under no obligation to write or work on anything that has to be done.
B) However, there is nothing more you can do.
Keeping these two possibilities in mind, you will eventually have to start working if only to avoid being bored! Even if your job may not be as straightforward and well-defined as Chandler's, you can still gain from the clarity that arises from making time for either doing nothing or concentrating on your ONE most essential task.

3. Modify Your Setting.

If you're struggling with alcoholism, it's crucial to steer clear of environments like bars and individuals who may not support your efforts to cut back on drinking. Additionally, keeping alcohol out of your home is essential. Similarly, when combating procrastination, it's vital to identify and eliminate the triggers that fuel your tendency to delay tasks. For instance, if noisy public spaces hinder your productivity, seek out quieter, more conducive environments where you can focus. Consequently, to prevent procrastination and maintain focus, I must remove potential distractions from my workspace—both digital and physical—allowing me to prioritize and concentrate on my chosen tasks.

Doing something will teach you far more than just thinking about doing it. Compared to purchasing an instructional painting book, you will get more knowledge and skill from painting by actually doing it, identifying your shortcomings, and using the experience to develop. I think that could be the tip of the year!