There is both a feeling of fear and liberation when you make a decision that puts you over the edge of something from which there is no turning back. I am not a very good skier but I remember my first time doing the only black diamond I’ve ever been on. I was pretty certain that the slope exceeded my skiing ability but something in me just had to do it. Once I pointed my skis down the slope and started, I knew I was passed the point of no return. In some way, shape or form, I was going to get to the bottom.

It’s been my experience in life that this initial step is often the most important one. It could be with exercise, a relationship, faith, school or anything else but the principle is the same. When you make that decision to point the skis over the slope and begin, there is no turning back. Once you make that decision then you must embrace the situation you’ve gotten yourself into and fight through it. There is only so much analyzing that you can do at the top of the slope. You can think through the way in which you want to get down and come up with a detailed plan of attack. At some point however, you will have to just go and deal with the consequences.

Maybe for you there is an important conversation you need to have with someone. Perhaps there is a retreat or a conference you need to go to. Maybe you need to sign up to go skydiving to overcome a paralyzing fear of heights. Whatever the case may be, you will have to move passed the point of no return. Once you do, you will put yourself in a situation where you can do things you never dreamed possible.