Overthinking? One Tiny Step That Changes Everything

"You don't need a perfect, long detailed plan to start - you just need one tiny brave step. That's it!"

Do you ever catch yourself staring at a challenge and thinking, "This is TOO HARD. I can't do it"?

I hear this from my coaching clients all the time. Actually, I hear it from my kids and grandkids too! But here's the thing - it's not just them. We all have moments when life throws us something that feels insurmountable.

Maybe it's starting that business you've been dreaming about, having a difficult conversation with someone you love, or finally writing the first page of your book. 

Whatever your "hard thing" is, I want you to know that you're not stuck - you're just one step away from your brave.

Stop Letting Your Fear Dragon Hold You Back

When we say "This is too hard," what's really happening is our inner fear voice - I call mine "Fred" - is taking control. 

Like a fiery dragon circling your brain, Fred whispers warnings about failure, pain, and exhaustion. He's trying to protect you, but the downside is, he's also keeping you frozen in place.

The problem isn't that hard things exist. 

The problem is how we've been taught to approach them.

Don’t Get Caught In The Overthinking Trap

We live in a culture that tells us we need massive, detailed plans before we can start anything meaningful. 

Want to write a book? You need an outline, character development sheets, and a marketing strategy. 

Want to launch a business? You need a comprehensive business plan, financial projections, and contingency plans for every possible scenario.

But here's what I've learned: Overwhelming plans often become beautifully organized ways to avoid taking action. 

We get so caught up in planning that we never actually start moving.

I used to be the queen of this. I would journal, map out, and color-code everything before taking a single step. It felt safer to plan than to risk. But all that planning was just another form of hiding.

look for your Firewalking Wake-Up Call

Everything changed for me at a Tony Robbins event when I found myself standing barefoot in line to walk across actual hot coals. I was terrified.

My Fear-Fred was in full panic mode, screaming about burns, trips, and general humiliation.

I had convinced myself I was just keeping my husband company - I wasn't actually going to do it. But when I got to the front of the line, they looked me right in the eye and wouldn't let me walk away. They had been having us practice saying "YES!" all day, and now it was time to mean it.

I wanted to do it, but I was paralyzed by fear. 

Then, just as I was building up a tiny bit of courage, they dumped an entire bucket of fresh, bright red coals on top of the existing ones. My fear spiked.

"I can't," I said. But something deeper in me knew that I could.

In that moment, I felt my inner warrior awakening. 

I took that first step, then the next, then the next. I was doing it - walking on fire, one tiny brave step at a time. 

And suddenly, there was my husband on the other side, absolutely roaring his pride in me. 

I was unburned. 

I was elated. 

It was a feeling like none I had ever experienced.

That moment taught me something profound: Courage isn't the absence of fear. It's movement - lifting your foot and taking one step - even when fear is present.

Discover Your Power in Tiny Brave Steps

You don't need to see the whole staircase to take the first step. You don't need a perfect plan or complete confidence. 

You just need to identify the smallest possible action you can take today and then take it.

Here's my simple 3-step process:

Step 1: Name the Hard Thing 

What exactly are you avoiding? Get specific. Fear thrives in vagueness, so call it what it is.

Instead of "I need to do something about my business," try "I need to write a sales page for my coaching program."

Step 2: Break It Down 

Ask yourself: "What's the smallest possible step I could take toward this today?"

Not the best step or the perfect step - the smallest step. Maybe it's writing one sentence, googling one resource, or sending one email.

Step 3: Take One 90-Second Action 

Set a timer for 90 seconds and do something.

Write the first sentence.

Draft an email subject line.

Hit record on your phone.

Take action while your fear is still chattering, because motion quiets fear faster than planning ever will.

Feel Your Courage Showing Up

When you take a 90-second action, you're interrupting the fear cycle and proving to your brain: "We can do hard things."

Your brain and body need movement to shift out of fear mode.

One Tiny Brave Step leads to the next. 

And the next. 

This is how you build momentum without burning out or freezing because the entire journey seems too daunting.

You go from "I can't" to "I'm doing it, scared and all." You stop waiting for courage to arrive and start creating it through action.

Your Courage Has Always Been There

As I share in my book "Brave Enough To Be Myself," "You're not building courage from scratch - you're remembering what's been there all along." 

That firewalking moment didn't give me courage I didn't have - it revealed the courage that was already within me, waiting to be activated.

The same is true for you. 

…You've been brave before. 

…You've faced hard things and survived. 

…You've taken scary steps and found your footing. 

That same strength lives in you right now.

What’s Your 90-Second Action Going To Be?

This week, I challenge you to:

1. Name your "hard thing" - be specific

   
   

2. Break it down to the smallest possible step

   
   

3. Take one 90-second action

   
   

Remember, you're not stuck. You're just one step away from your brave. 

One Tiny Brave Step can change everything, because it reminds you of who you really are - someone brave enough to move forward, even when it's scary.

If you need help identifying your next Tiny Brave Step, I've created a free resource to guide you. The Tiny Brave Steps Generator at www.tinybravesteps.com will help you break down any challenge into manageable, actionable steps.

Your courage is waiting. Take that first step.

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What's your tiny brave step going to be this week? I'd love to hear about it - and cheer you on. Put it in the comments.