There was once a traveler who was hiking through some mountains when he came upon a small house at the top.

It was getting cold and dark, so he thought this would be the perfect place to rest for the night.

Walking up to the house, he knocked on the door, but no one answered. He then pressed his ear up against the door and heard nothing. Stepping back, he wondered if he needed a key. So he looked all around the house and found nothing. Maybe he had to wait for the owner to come home? So, he waited.

For hours, he walked around the house. Eventually, exhausted, the traveler leaned his back against the door to rest, to only fall backwards.

Laying on the ground, he looked up and saw the door had been open all along.

This is how overthinking works in real life.

If we run into something that feels difficult or insurmountable, we pause, we analyze. We wait for certainty.

But most doors, or obstacles, don’t ever announce themselves as being locked. They only open when you apply weight.

So just like with our traveler, if you come across an obstacle, don’t assume it’s meant to keep you out. Be ready to lean in, even if you do it awkwardly or imperfectly. The act of starting is often the thing that reveals there was nothing stopping you in the first place.

Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I’m Currently Reading - I’m still in the middle of re-reading The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield. A short book on overcoming procrastination and doing the work you need to do.

Quote Of The Week - “If you want to win the lottery, you have to make the money to buy a ticket.” — Jake Gyllenhaal