10 Benefits of Taking the Next Step in Life

by Liz Jansen

take the next step in lifeTaking the next step in life requires initiative. Initiative means action. Get yourself geared up and sit on your motorcycle. You and your bike look fantastic, you’re both ready to go, and it looks like you mean business. But now you need initiative to move off. Put the key in the ignition, turn it on, and hit the starter. While looking in the direction you want to go, shift into gear, release the clutch, and apply the throttle. Off you go.

It’s the same in life. Think of taking just one step at a time. And that’s all you ever need to do. You have the power to do that. They don’t have to be big steps. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other. Doing so creates the following benefits.

  1. Control. While you can’t control everything that happens around you or to you, you can control how you respond. It’s better to be in a position where you’re free to make choices that align with your values and goals rather than having decisions imposed on you.
  2. Achievement. As Roxie Malone said in Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment, “You can sit back and let life go by, or you can get on it!” Taking that next step is the first step toward getting things done and reaching your goals.
  3. Confidence. Small successes set the stage for larger ones. Take note of your accomplishments. Success creates momentum and builds on itself.
  4. Proactivity. Recognizing potential danger and then taking action to avert it nips problems in the bud. You may have been down a road before and have knowledge about a hazard no one else is aware of. Speak up so that others will have what they need to make informed decisions.
  5. Inspiration. You serve as a role model to others. Often, it just takes one person having the courage to take that step toward their goal, and others will do the same. Think of the possibilities if everyone was listening to their inner guides and marching toward their goals. Even if the steps are small, the potential for positive change is enormous.
  6. Self-Awareness. Taking initiative is taking a risk. But it’s the only way you’re going to learn about yourself and your personal power. New riders are often incredulous at the confidence and renewed personal strength they feel from learning a motorcycle. Once you start discovering your capabilities, you’ll want to keep going.
  7. Creativity. Initiative creates opportunities and allows you to fuel your passion. Being out on the road invariably leads to new experiences and insights. Although you share the Road with others, no one else walks your steps. It’s up to you to recognize your gifts and share them with others.
  8. Mistakes. If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not stretching and growing. One of the reasons it’s wise for new riders to purchase a used motorcycle as their first is that they’re going to damage it, or they’re going to choose something they’re not happy with. Gather the best information available, make your decision, and learn from it, even when things don’t turn out as planned. Mistakes are one of life’s greatest teaching tools.
  9. Fear busting. The greatest role of fear is to alert you to potential danger. The greatest trap is that you allow fear to prevent you from moving forward. Most fears are irrational and crop up when you’re trying something new and your ego is threatened by change. Take note of any real danger, acknowledge the irrational fear that is trying to protect you, thank it, park it, and move on.
  10. Accomplishment. Things get done. Dream all you want about something, but until you put a plan into action to achieve it, it remains a dream.

Always keep your eyes focused on where you want to go. Then use your power to engage your initiative and take the next step. You’ll be amazed at the success you experience and the positive energy you generate.

Read more life tips in 75 Tips for Maintaining Body, Mind and Soul   Free Download for a limited time.

photo credit: Thomas Tolkien via photopin cc

About

Author, writer, and student Liz Jansen combines her artistic mediums to create stories that inspire readers to embark on their own journey of self-discovery.