Mile Wide, Inch Deep

Dear Collective,

Almost every big decision we make faces this issue. Fear is a mile wide but only an inch deep. Dip a toe.

Think about that for a second. The "mile wide" part is the anticipation. It’s the sheer vastness of the things we overthink: the fear of starting a new routine, the anxiety about adding more weight to the bar, the endless excuses we make about food, or the paralysis before walking through our doors after taking six months off. We allow the idea of the challenge to cover such a huge mental area that we get stuck right where we are.

But the fear itself? The actual discomfort of doing the thing? That’s only the inch deep part. The first rep, the first minute of cardio, the first few words of a difficult conversation—that’s the real barrier. The resistance is momentary. The pain of starting is always less painful than the anxiety of waiting.

This week, you don’t have to dive in headfirst. You don't have to conquer the whole mile. Just dip a toe. What is the one uncomfortable, small action you are avoiding today? Is it sending that email, getting up five minutes earlier, or adding that five-pound plate to the bar? Don’t wait until you feel ready, and don't spend another minute staring across the mile-wide expanse. Take the smallest, most intentional step forward. Prove to yourself that the hardest part was just standing on the edge.

With Strength and Community,

Charlie