All Beginnings Are Difficult

I recently found the most beautiful Hebrew saying, "Kol Hatchalot Kashot": All beginnings are difficult.

“All beginnings are difficult.” Just writing that sentence carries so much weight. It’s intense. It’s got meat to it. It’s well…difficult. It’s deep and yet simple all at once. 

A beginning means that something has ended. A beginning signifies change. A beginning means you must start. Webster defines beginning as “the action or start of bringing or bringing into being”. It’s something different, something new. Whether it’s the beginning of a new life process- the beginning of a new marriage, the beginning of a new birth, the beginning of widowhood. Or maybe it’s the beginning of the path to climbing a mountain, the beginning to grad school, the beginning of a new process at work. Perhaps it’s even the beginning of a new painting on a canvas, a new book you wish to write, a new hair style?

Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to witness firsthand a beginning that’s inspired me. Two of the men in our office, Darryl and Brian, have decided to run the San Antonio Rock and Roll Half Marathon. No easy feat considering in January of this year Darryl weighed at least 50 pounds more than he does now and the half was not even on Brian’s radar. Their beginning was difficult to say the least. Mindsets had to change, perspectives had to change, decisions had to change and change can be difficult. 

Think about going to the eye doctor. He sits you in the chair and flashes lenses in front of you. 1 or 2. 3 or 4. Now is 1 better or worse than 3? Imagine if we could tie attitudes to those numbers. 1 is Negative Attitude. 2 is Just Ok. 3 is It’s hard but I’m willing. 4 is I’m committed. Which lens do you prefer to navigate change to your new beginning? 

I believe we must walk ourselves from 1 - 4 if we are going to be on board with our beginnings AND for the benefit of those around us so that we’re not miserable to be around. Remember, it takes a village…

So, Brian and Darryl are now up to running an hour or more on their training schedule. So proud of them! They are getting leaner, stronger and guess what by default their mindsets are also changing. When we take on, commit to and act on physical change, changing our mental attitude is a byproduct. It happens naturally. No longer are we resistive to change but we actually relish the challenge of a difficult beginning. We know what we are made of. We know we can handle it. We look forward to that first step of transition. 

Biblically, think of how many times God asked His people to trust Him for new beginnings. You and I are proof He still does. Quite often when we want our beginning to be cozy and comfortable, usually He has other plans. You see friends, when we're a little stretched and a little uncertain that's when we get to see how big He is. That's when we get to realize apart from Him that new beginning would be even more difficult. Often times we dictate the degree of difficulty. 

Remember, “all beginnings are difficult”, you and your mindset determine just how difficult that beginning will be.