It was ‘Guy’s Day’, which is a Wednesday for my boys and I, and we ventured off to a trampoline park.

We get inside, slide on those awesome trampoline socks, and get to bouncing around for a few hours. At this park, they also have a few other things you can do. There is a rock wall, jousting area, and a rolling log, amongst other things.

We head over to the rolling log area to conquer that sucker. I show my kids what the obstacle is and what you have to do to get across it. It’s definitely one of those easier said than done things.

The rolling log is something that as you step on it and try to go across, it starts spinning. You have to be sure footed and have good balance to succeed.

My oldest was a bit apprehensive with it. He would take a few steps out, while I held is hand, and then question if he could actually do it. He would then come back to the platform. My youngest was just having fun taking a step onto it and then falling into the foam pit. He’ll have a true attempt at it when he’s older.

After a few times wanting to hold my hand, my oldest tried on his own. He took some steps out and then rolled off into the foam pit. He got a bit further with each attempt, but still fell short of the opposite side.

He got back to the platform to try again and then boom, got over to the other side with ease. Sure footed step after step, one little foot quickly in front of the other, he made it look easy. I was proud of him for conquering that obstacle and made sure to let him know. He was so pumped about it and I loved seeing that smile on his face. He walked back around and did it again and again and again.

Then it was my turn. I wanted to see how he did it and how this log would react to a 200lb frame instead of a 30lb frame. I take some slow steps one in front of the other trying to feel when the log was going to roll. The foam pit welcomed me with open arms. Taking my time and trying to react to the log was not working. I was only getting about a quarter of the way across before I fell to safety.

I thought back to how my oldest son had gotten across. He got across by going for it. He had quick steps and did not pause on the log. His body made slight adjustments to stay on that obstacle until he made it all the way across. I tried his tactic of going for it and getting across quickly.

Boom. I did it. I finally conquered it and it actually wasn’t as hard as I thought anymore. I finally found out the key to conquering it.

A solid lesson was taught by this obstacle. The good ol’ rolling log dishing out life lessons.

An extremely hard and unstable obstacle became simple. It became simple only after letting go of the fear and committing to it. My oldest was not worried about what the other kids and parents might think of him if he failed to cross it. He let go of the fear of falling off because he knew he could get back up and try again. It became clear to him that if he were to cross that obstacle, he had to commit to it and not back out.

Time and time again, we try to get started with a project, new workout plan, new diet, insert your goal here, etc.

Life starts to get unstable after the first couple steps towards your goal and we fall back to square one. We let our goal take a backseat. We half ass it. We let fear keep us from getting to the other side. We do not totally commit to doing the thing because of that fear.

“Do the thing and you will have the power” -Ralph Waldo Emerson

When something gets in the way, we can make course corrections. Reroute yourself just like the GPS does. If a traffic jam popped up on my route, I wouldn’t turn around and go back home. I would look at the map to see where I could go so that I can continue on to my goal/destination. Perhaps something in my original plan did not work as I thought it would. This doesn’t mean I failed. This just means that I need to learn from what happened and make a course correction.

“When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal.” -Napolean Hill

The lesson is to commit. Get started and then place the other foot in front of the other. There is no perfect plan or route before you get started. Get a plan together and then adapt that plan as necessary.

Not sure where to start?

Write down a goal that you have. This has to be a goal that you want to accomplish. It comes from your desire and nobody else’s desire for you. Something you truly want.

After that, here is what you can do.

Check out this nifty tactic I learned from my Strength Faction buddies.

Write out five productive things you can do to reach that goal.

Now, of those five things, what are the three things you are most likely to start with?

Of those three things, what is the one thing you can start with right now?

Do that one thing. Once you accomplish that one thing, you start to build momentum and a ‘I can do this’ attitude. It builds you up and that momentum takes you toward your goal.

You have to commit.

Go for it!

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