Good morning.
It's Monday, October nineteenth.
There's probably something on your list.
Something you keep scrolling past.
A phone call you keep putting off.
Or an email you've drafted four times.
Your stomach knows which one.
It got a little tight just now.
That's okay.
We don't have to do it yet.
Ask anyone who's done a hard thing.
Their hands were shaking too.
Sit so both feet can reach the floor.
Let your hands rest on your legs.
We have six minutes.
Let's spend them getting steady.
Start with your feet.
Press them down.
Feel the floor press back.
Breathe in slowly...
all the way to your belly.
And breathe out...
down through your legs.
Into your heels.
In again...
let your belly get round.
And out...
feet getting heavier.
Like wet sand.
One more.
In, low and slow...
And out...
all the way into the ground.
Notice that.
Your feet aren't going anywhere.
Neither are you.
Now let's look for your strength.
Not in your head.
In your body.
Start at the base of your spine.
Feel it rising up from the chair.
One bone at a time.
Up through your back.
Between your shoulder blades.
Up to your neck.
That's a strong line.
It's held you up your whole life.
Through every bad day.
Breathe into it.
Let it lengthen a little.
Now the middle of your chest.
Right behind your breastbone.
When you're scared...
this is where it caves in.
So let it open instead.
Just a little wider.
Picture standing on a hill.
Early morning.
Grass bending in the wind.
The wind pushes against you.
Cool and steady.
And you don't fall over.
You lean in a little.
You stay.
Courage feels a lot like that.
Quiet.
A small lean into the wind.
Now think about that thing again.
The one on your list.
Your heart might speed up.
Let it.
Keep your feet heavy.
Keep breathing.
Notice you're still sitting here.
Still in one piece.
Thinking about it didn't break you.
Fear and courage can sit together.
They usually do.
You don't need the fear gone first.
You just need a first step.
Say this to yourself.
Plainly.
I can feel nervous and lean in anyway.
I only need to take one step.
Just stay on the hill a while.
Feet planted.
Wind moving past.
Down below, the town is waking up.
Porch lights clicking off.
Nothing to prove up here.
If your mind runs off...
to how it could go wrong...
let it.
Then come back to your feet.
Still heavy.
Still here.
Let the hill fade.
Feel the room again.
Press your feet down one more time.
Sit up tall.
Roll your shoulders back.
One strong breath in...
And out.
Now go back to that one thing.
Find the smallest first step.
Only the opening move.
The part that's over Maybe quickly.
it's typing the first line.
Or finding their number.
Or putting on the Do calendar.
that step before noon.
Then see how you feel.
You might be surprised.
The waiting is usually the worst part.
Once you your start...
body tends to catch up.
Open your eyes when you're ready.
Go be brave on a Monday.