Beginnings Diminish With Time

When we’re younger, beginnings happen at an almost rapid-fire pace. We enter a new school, attend summer programs, meet new people, and learn various subjects. There are new and exciting possibilities that happen on their own.

But once you graduate and start working, the landscape changes. Instead of reaching a checkpoint every so often, you enter a wide expanse that never seems to end. You find yourself facing a long, continuing horizon that stretches out forever.

As we get older, we find ourselves gradually settling into the same jobs, the same relationships, and the same surroundings. The dust settles and a pattern emerges.

Unless we proactively do something, the status quo remains. That’s both the beauty and the curse of being in charge of our own lives: we can do as much or as little as we choose. It’s up to you to create beginnings.

Keystone Habits & Development

Exercise is a good example of this. Once you start to change your exercise habits, it sets off a chain reaction that changes other habits as well: you start feeling good about your body, you eat healthy foods, you procrastinate less, etc.

Do not be ambitious at the beginning. That leads to failure. Consistency is what you’re shooting for, so make the hurdle as low as possible.

Thinking about the details makes you more likely to follow through. 

Just writing down your plan also makes a big difference in effectively committing to your goals.

Create Your Own Beginnings

Even if you’re an expert in your field, you can still be a beginner and provide new ideas in another field.

For instance, the platform InnoCentive recognizes the value of having an outsider come in and provide fresh insight to a company. The site connects innovative companies looking to solve problems with experts from all walks of life. A company posts a challenge, offering cash awards up to $1 million, and anyone can submit a proposed solution.

The site has found that many problems are solved by individuals outside of the field. A statistician successfully applied a statistical model to forestry. A physicist helped an engineering firm through his knowledge of optics and radio-frequencies. While the problem solver may not directly work or study in the field, that individual can apply knowledge and experience from their own field.

You can always begin again by dipping your toes somewhere new. You can try your hand at a different skill, such as learning to cook an unfamiliar recipe. You can visit a new place, whether it’s as far as a country you’ve never visited or as close as a restaurant in your neighborhood.

Weight Loss Snacks That Actually Satisfy

Anyone who’s ever tried a traditional “diet snack” knows that there’s just something about those tiny snack packs covered in “low calorie!” and “low fat!” claims that always seem to leave you raiding your pantry for something else to take the edge off—sending you on an overeating spiral sure to derail your weight loss efforts.

There’s a reason many diet snacks aren’t so satisfying. They lack the optimal amounts of nutrients like protein, fiber, and healthy fats, to help fill you up—without filling you out. Plus, many of these snacks don’t actually deliver the flavor or texture you’re craving. But by opting for snacks that include the right mix of nutrients and satisfy your cravings, you can enjoy a delicious treat and lose weight, too!