It’s the new year! With new things to resolve and 365 days ahead of us, we feel like we can tackle anything! Unfortunately, Business Insider tells us that 80% of new years resolutions fail by February. That’s really disappointing to hear. I think part of the problem is we feel like we’re starting from square one and it’s hard to start from the beginning.

At the beginning of 2016 I started walking again.  It felt discouraging because I was only walking a half mile at a time.  The previous June, I’d been up to three miles a day.  It took me six months to work up to three miles and it was all gone.  I felt like I was starting back at square one.

Then I realized, it wasn’t square one.  I knew what to do.  I knew I needed to walk that half mile daily for a couple of weeks before I could increase my mileage.  I knew that I was capable of getting back to three miles a day.  Yes, I needed to work hard at it.  But I had an advantage I didn’t have when I started walking the first time.  I know what I’m capable of.

When I first started walking I would never have believed I’d walk almost fifty miles in four weeks.  I would have never believed that I’d miss the days I didn’t walk.  I would never have believed that I would inspire others to exercise.

But I did it…one step at a time.

So I know I can do it again.  I’m not at square one.

Knowing I can do it puts me at maybe square two.  But I’m not at square two, either.  I’ve learned some tricks that help me be successful as I walk.

If I can get up earlier I’m more likely to walk.

If I wear my headphones and listen to podcasts, I walk more quickly.

If I walk the half mile block around my house in laps I can run in and use the bathroom halfway through the walk if I need to.

If I put my phone in my pocket it counts the steps.

If I take my daughter with me, I walk more slowly.

I know all these things and I didn’t know them when I started.  I’ve started over a couple of times since 2016 as well. So I’m not just at square one or two.  I’m much further ahead.

If you had momentum before, whether it be walking, running, reading the Bible daily, writing every morning, etc. and you lost it, don’t worry.  You’re not back at square one.  You can do it and this time the momentum will come quicker because

1. You know you can do it again.
2. You’ve learned tricks and tools to help you more quickly this time.

You’re not at square one.  You won’t be there again.