Have you ever found yourself thinking, “I’ll do it once I feel motivated”, only to realize that moment never quite comes? It often happens to me ...
Recently, I was reminded that it’s often action that brings motivation—not the other way around. And it was the small, everyday things that showed me this truth.
One example is the Gothic festival that takes place every year in Leipzig, the city where I live. The whole city fills with people dressed in beautiful gothic costumes—it's like stepping into another world. For years, I’ve wanted to walk through the city in costume with my daughter. But even though I kept thinking this year for sure, the days would just slip by and I’d end up missing it again.
This time, I tried something different. I started with one tiny step: I bought black lipstick 😁 Then I and things started moving. My daughter jumped in with excitement saying “Let’s do this! Let’s try that!” Now it looks like we’ll actually make it this weekend. Just in the last minutes!
Another moment came with something even smaller. Last week, I wanted to bake a lemon cake. I had all the ingredients, but I just couldn’t get myself to start. It felt like too much. So I told myself, just line the baking tin with paper. That’s all. So I did. And the next time I had a spare time, I zested the lemon, prepped the flour… and little by little, in the end the cake came together.
Looking back, I see it clearly: motivation doesn’t always come first. But taking one small action can open the door to the next step, and the next—and suddenly, you're motivated.
It doesn’t have to be something big. Just do something. Buy the lipstick. Line the tin. Even the smallest steps can become turning points when you look back.
So if you’re feeling stuck, push yourself for a really small step. It might be just what you need to get things flowing again.
(Photo: Browsing lace at a fabric shop for our gothic outfits—so much fun! I’m so glad I took that first step 😆)
今回、日本語はnoteの記事として書いてみました。よかったらのぞいてみてください☺️