This is number 3 in a 5 part series, go here for the 1st and 2nd Sutra.

3. When the time is on you start and the pressure will be off

This one is bound to make any person go ‘Ahhh, yes’ because they may have already experienced this or read about it in another form. It is so true and reminds me of words I say often ‘Just start where you are, see how you go’. It has to do with flow to, when you start something, even this blog post for example, I get in a flow of writing, feel in my rhythm and one post will lead to a whole idea of posts which will lead to ticking off other tasks that I saw as obstacles but are now in the ‘done’ pile.

It means going for it, starting anyway despite words from your inner critic, when everything seems time bound and deadline driven you come back to the moment, the now, it’s all you have anyway.

Stephan Pressfield author of The Work, writes about slaying the dragon of resistance while it’s small, I like that image because what you resist persists.

‘Don’t think. Act
Once we commit to action, the worst thing we can do is stop.
What will keep us from stopping? Plain old stubbornness.
We’re in till the finish.’ – Do The Work quotes

Similarly the saying ‘Eat the frog first’ a book of the name by Brian Tracey applies here, it’s meaning is to take action on the thing you least want to do, even if it’s the most or least important, to take action on that, get it off your plate and move onto other tasks.

When the time is on you start and the pressure will be off is something I think to myself when faced with a small task, Alice Fulks has a good story here or a much bigger task because I have to start somewhere.  I also think it when making travel plans as things can go from daunting to organised. Also when it comes to goals to as one small action can send ripples to the next and so on and so on.

I’ve said this to friends in the past whether they want to hear it or not to get a bigger perspective on whatever happening and it’s as if there is a hand of guidance or window of possibility has opened up to them.

I think this mantra can go a little deeper too, that even if the action you are taking feels small or even pointless to where you want to be or do in the future, it’s still action you are still in motion, keeping it moving. You’re one step ahead than if you hadn’t of stepped at all.

Try it this week, recite the mantra, really let it in. Journal your experience, write it at the top of your to do list or discuss with others.

When your mind thinks about time or you feel overwhelmed, start with one thing you can do, start and feel the pressure fall and yourself in flow.