Taking the First Step

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“For some things we never feel ready.” – Moana 2

My kids and I watched Moana 2 this week when we were in Hawaii. It felt like another way to weave in the Island culture. But it turned into something more when I heard the quote above. Moana is getting ready for an expedition and her mom says to her, “For some things we never feel ready.”

That line hit me right in the heart. I always want to feel ready – and never do. My best adventures come from when I do it anyway. Like this summer as my kids and I travel from Seattle to Hawaii and then on to visit friends in Amsterdam, Paris and England. I’ve learned so much. Mostly about how not to get frozen in fear but instead have faith that I can follow the steps in front of me one at a time.

So in this episode of The Life of Try, I share the story about turning a long-held dream of visiting friends in France into a real-life adventure through courage, creativity, and community support. What began as an expensive and seemingly impossible trip became an opportunity to rent out my home, ask for help, and take the next step before the whole path was clear.

This episode explores what it means to stop waiting for perfect timing, listen to the quiet tug of what matters, and move forward even when life feels uncertain. Through stories about Airbnb, travel logistics, helpful neighbors, pet care, and unexpected solutions, I reflect on the powerful formula: Motive + Means = Opportunity.

Key Takeaways

  • Don’t wait for easy—move because it matters. The right time may never arrive, but meaningful goals often begin with one brave first step.
  • Pay attention to the sparks. A casual comment, a book passage, a flyer, or someone else’s story can become part of the solution once you start moving.
  • Say the dream out loud. People can’t support a goal they don’t know about, so communicate what you’re trying to do and be willing to accept help.
  • Use the formula: Motive + Means = Opportunity. When your why meets the resources, people, and ideas already around you, new possibilities begin to unfold.
  • Take the next step, not the whole staircase. You don’t need to solve every problem in advance; you only need to meet the next real step in front of you.

If you’re looking for encouragement to get unstuck, try something new, pursue a meaningful goal, or find courage in the messy middle, this episode offers inspiration, practical wisdom, and a reminder that you don’t need to see the whole staircase to begin.

Here are some other ways you can listen and watch this episode:

Barbara Nickless on A Voice In The Dark, Online Gaming and The Power of Story – The Life of Try: Personal growth, one try at a time.

In this episode of The Life of Try, host Wynne Leon talks with Wall Street Journal bestselling author Barbara Nickless about her new psychological suspense novel, A Voice in the Dark. Their conversation moves from the dark corners of online gaming and internet manipulation to the real-world vulnerabilities of teenagers, families, and people searching for belonging. Barbara shares how deep research, FBI consultants, and her own curiosity shape her fiction, especially as she writes about FBI profiler Helen Belle, criminal humanist Benedict Hoffman, addiction, trauma, and the question of what draws people toward danger.This thoughtful author interview explores how storytelling can help us understand complicated human experiences, including moral injury, PTSD, addiction, grief, law enforcement, cybercrime, and the healing power of writing. Barbara also reflects on teaching writing to military veterans and civilians, researching dangerous places and difficult subjects, and using narrative to “de-other” people we might otherwise misunderstand. Key Takeaways:→A Voice in the Dark explores the dangers young people can face in online communities, especially when vulnerable teens and young adults are targeted by manipulative influencers.→Storytelling can help us “de-other” people by taking us inside their motivations, histories, and struggles in ways that facts and news stories alone often cannot.→Curiosity is at the heart of Barbara Nickless’s writing process. Her research into online gaming, FBI investigations, addiction, trauma, and moral injury helps make her fiction vivid, compassionate, and grounded in real human experience.→Researching modern crime fiction requires balancing accuracy with readability, particularly when writing about cybercrime, AI, online manipulation, and evolving law enforcement tools.→The conversation highlights a core Life of Try theme: trying begins with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to enter unfamiliar worlds in order to understand ourselves and one another more deeply.If you love conversations about books, personal growth, curiosity, crime fiction, psychological thrillers, resilience, and what it means to keep trying, this episode offers a rich and compassionate look at the stories that help us make sense of ourselves and one another.📘 Order A Voice In the Dark: https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Benedict-Hoffman-Helen-Belle-ebook/dp/B0FTGGHSWL/🌐 Show notes and more inspiration: https://wynneleon.com🔔 Subscribe for more: Subscribe to The Life of Try for more conversations on: personal growth, creativity, reinvention, resilience, writing, and mindset.ABOUT MEHi, I’m Wynne Leon — host of The Life of Try, a personal growth and self-improvement podcast exploring resilience, reinvention, uncertainty, and the courage to keep trying.Through thoughtful interviews, reflective conversations, and real-life stories, I share insights to help you navigate change, get unstuck, and move forward with more intention.🌍 Website: https://wynneleon.com🎥 Watch Next➡️ Letting Go Of Outcomes: The Mindset That Keeps You Moving➡️ 48: How to Get Unstuck: Michael Yang on Saying Yes, Resilience and Coming Alive➡️ How to Finally Write That Book You've Been Dreaming About | Writing Motivation
  1. Barbara Nickless on A Voice In The Dark, Online Gaming and The Power of Story
  2. Embracing What Makes You Different | Kym Gordon Moore
  3. Motive + Means = Opportunity: A Life of Try Story
  4. How Writing Helps Us Survive Chronic Illness and Loss
  5. Near Death, Deep Faith, New Life | Liza Anderson’s Extraordinary Story

Links for this Episode:

Motive + Means = Opportunity transcript

The Fun Habit by Mike Rucker, PhD

Other Episodes you Might Enjoy:

How to Let Go of Expectations & Keep Trying | Personal Growth Mindset

How to Find and Share Your Unique Superpower | Roger Kastner on Purpose & Personal Growth

⁠How to Reclaim Fun in Adult Life | Mike Rucker, PhD, on Joy, Burnout and the Fun Habit⁠

52 thoughts on “Taking the First Step”

  5. Oh I love that your family got to enjoy Moana 2 in Hawaii – that is extra special. Moana is one of T’s favourites and he must’ve watched it daily for quite a stretch of time. I look forward to hearing more of your travels and to tuning into this latest episode this weekend.

    2 more days of school for us. Bittersweet emotions over here.

    Take care!

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    1. Moana is really good, isn’t it? Sometimes Disney really nails it.

      Hope the last 2 days of school go great. When I picked Miss O up from her last day of school, she was sobbing knowing she wouldn’t go back. I’m not sure I realized what a milestone this is for our kids before this spring. So proud of T and O!!

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  9. “I believe great people do things before they are ready.”— Amy Poehler. / i love this episode and your story. i’m so glad that you went for it and made it happen. we just have to go for it, not knowing how it will happen but having faith that it will somehow workout, often in ways he haven’t yet considered.

    this realization has been proven to me time and again in my life. starting grad school, quitting my job, 3 daughters in college, changing careers, moving, all when i was 40 and had $12.75 in the bank. and somehow i found a way and it happened. changed my life for the better. great post and have fun!

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    1. I love this comment, Beth!! What a great story — such incredible bravery and just where you needed to be, right? And I so resonate with “time and time again.” Somehow learning this isn’t just a one time thing – we have to keep doing it! Thank you!

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  13. I had no idea that the rental originated from pulling together a years-old dream, Wynne. That’s cool. What a briliant insight that the next step appears when we take the first one. Gosh, that is so true. And I love the story as it unfolds, how 3 or4 factors made the pieces come on fire. Wow, wow, wow. I am SO happy for you as sit and talk looking summery and tan and healthy in Hawaii! ☺️ I read The Alchemist probably a century ago, but what you call sparks, Coelo called signs and you have to be ready to see them when they appear. You did and tried and the dream is here. This is probably my favorite Life of Try….so far.

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    1. Oh, Melanie — I love how you connected the dots to The Alchemist. I hadn’t thought of that and it’s probably been a good decade since I read it too. Right – you have to be ready to see them. That is so true!! I love the way you listen and your feedback is invaluable. Thank you, my dear friend!

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      1. You’re welcome, and I hope that you and the kids have a wonderful time in all those places. They are going to have so much to talk about with their friends when they get back to school.

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  15. An act of encouragement. I hope that by now, you are recovering or recovered from the jet lag and visiting your friends.

    I will say a couple of additional things. The story you told is of someone (you) who is intellectually flexible. Without the ability to think through multiple alternatives, the effort might not have worked. Second, your good nature provided you with thoughtful and intelligent friends. Again, without them, the effort might not have succeeded.

    One more item. As you said, waiting for the ideal moment often means the doors that are not fully opened will be insufficient to fulfill your dreams. We all need to push. You will be telling more stories about Hawaii and Europe for years and years. So will your kids, Wynne. Have a wonderful time!

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    1. Ah, thank you for the good wishes. We have indeed recovered from jet lag and are having a marvelous time. I was nervous about those flights but we made it through!

      You make good points, as always, Dr. Stein. I agree that we all need to push. And while there are things about this dream that are particular to me, I do think we’re all able to push ourselves a little more. Even if it’s just on the belief that we can do it, whatever it is!

      Thanks for the great comment!

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    1. I totally agree that it’s more meaningful to my kids because they had to work for it. In fact, I think that’s one of the things that makes it all the more fun – to truly be doing it together! It adds that agency factor.

      And yes, the going to Hawaii to get to Europe was a weird loop. 🙂 Thanks for tuning in!

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  17. I love this episode so much Wynne!💞💞 Everything you learned, your take aways, your ability to gain momentum and get things done… it all started with a desire to visit friends in France… I hope you have a fantastic trip and are able to enjoy every brave moment!!! As I was listening, I read through the comments, hoping someone might bravely share one of their dreams out loud. Here’s one of mine, I want to get my pilot’s certificate. I’ve been craving this for years, ever since I got my motorcycle license (25? years ago). I love being near planes, in planes, watching planes, going to fly-ins and air-shows… However, I don’t know anyone who is a pilot or who owns a plane. I’m afraid I might be too old (born in the 60’s), or too uncoordinated, or somehow not quite capable…. But every time I look at flyers for fly-ins or air-shows online, I inevitably see an airport offering pilot training. It’s so tempting, but I have no idea where to begin, or if I can afford it…. I’ll keep my eyes open to see if I can “Use the formula: Motive + Means = Opportunity”. ✈️🛩️

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    1. I love that, Rose!! Thank you so much for sharing your dream — and saying it out loud. I think the signs that you’ve already mentioned seeing – the flyers. I wonder if they do any free seminars for wanna-be pilots? I love that you got your motorcycle license and know you can make this happen too! Thanks for tuning in!!

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  18. “Don’t wait for easy” – I really like that, Wynne! It reminds me of discussions I had with my first wife; I badly wanted kids, but she felt the time wasn’t right. That’s the thing, though…the timing is never going to be perfect. If she had insisted on waiting for this elusive “easy,” I’d never have been a father.

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  19. WOW!!!!! Amazing adventure! Can’t wait to read about it! (wish my husband and I didn’t have a fear of flying – we fly when necessary, but I want to fly like you!!!!) XOV

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  20. Wynne I hope I listen to your podcasts one day. Listening is something hard for me to do with my life right now. This post really hit me as I am on a roadtrip which looked daunting a few years ago.

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  22. You are truly on to something here, “Don’t wait for easy—move because it matters. The right time may never arrive, but meaningful goals often begin with one brave first step.” Enjoy you across the pond sojourn!

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  23. Oh how wonderful, Wynne! I am so excited for you and your beautiful kids. I will be watching the segment in the morning and I know it will be inspirational! I hope you three are having awesome moments and that the memories you’re making fill your hearts for years to come.💞🌈🌊💞

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  24. Just watched your video! Yes! Thank you for the valuable lessons. I hope to take them in and begin using them consciously. It’s wonderful to think of you and the kids off on your adventure! Enjoy! 🌈❤️🌈

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  25. I am super impressed. I’m far too timid for this sort of thing, I think. Maybe if taken in small pieces, one bit at a time, I could get through it all. Wow, you’re amazing. And you have yet another podcast! Mind blown!

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  27. I’m a bit late to the party! I hope your trip was everything you hoped for and better!

    Waiting until we’re ready to do something, hmmm, that connects. I hadn’t gone to a restaurant, or a movie or a theater production alone before because I felt too self conscious but I wanted to do it, at least to say I did. I kept waiting until I felt ready, and years we t by because I didn’t feel ready. Then in the space of a couple of weekends I just did it. I plunged in and just did it. It was great. Not scary at all.

    Sometimes we just have to take the first step!

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