"The Bravery to Start"

"The Bravery to Start"

Rohan felt overwhelmed by the scope of his goals as he stood at the door of his tiny, unassuming Mumbai apartment. At the age of 28, he was leading a routine life and working a desk job. However, a fire had been started deep within. Rohan had dreamed of becoming a writer for as long as he could remember. He aspired to write inspirational books with heartwarming tales that would transform people's lives. But each time he reached for a pen, a wave of uncertainty swept over him, immobilizing him. What if his work was inadequate? What if he did not succeed?

Rohan would get up every day, go to work, and return home feeling empty because he was not doing what he was genuinely passionate about. He had made numerous attempts to begin writing, but fear had always prevented him. He had been trapped in his comfort zone because of his fears of rejection, failure, and inadequacy.

Rohan was sitting at his work one rainy evening, looking at a blank screen. In front of him, the cursor blinked, serving as a mute reminder of the unspoken words. He closed his eyes, sat back in his chair, and thought over his life in frustration. "What is causing me such fear to start?" he asked himself. "What is preventing me?"

A memory rushed across his head as though in response. It was a discussion he had years ago with his grandma, a wise and kind woman. "The hardest part of any journey is not the challenges you confront, but the guts to begin," she had said to Rohan. Everything else will fall into place once you get going.

Those words resonated genuine in that moment, even though he had nearly forgotten them. His dread of starting was what had held him back, not his fear of failing. He had never made the initial step because he had been so preoccupied with how difficult it may be and how many obstacles were in his way. He might be able to take charge of his future, though, if he could muster the guts to start.

Rohan made a choice that evening. He was determined to overcome his fear. He would start. He would write regardless of the size of the step or the quality of the outcome. His computer turned on, and a blank document appeared. This time, Rohan was not intimidated by the cursor's blinking, which almost seemed to mock him. He inhaled deeply, blocked off his doubts, and started typing.

The words started to flow as his fingers briefly hovered over the keys. It was not a masterpiece, but that was irrelevant. The important thing was that he had begun. Over the course of the following few hours, Rohan poured his ideas onto paper, his enthusiasm growing with every word. Although the plot was not flawless, it did not have to be. He had started down the path to his dream.

There was a newfound sense of purpose in the days that followed. Rohan set modest but attainable goals for himself and wrote every day. The words were easy to find on some days and difficult to find on others. But he appeared every day. He wrote every day. He put more emphasis on the process—the delight of creation—than on whether it would be good enough or how he would compare to others.

As the months went by, Rohan's self-assurance increased. Once just a collection of rambling ideas, his story started to take shape. He told his family and friends about his efforts, and they urged him to continue. Nevertheless, doubt still surfaced from time to time, but Rohan learnt to quell it with action. Aware that rejection was a necessary part of the process, he sent the work to other publishers.

Then the email arrived one day. Rohan held his breath and opened it carefully. His manuscript had been accepted by the publisher. They desired to have his book published.

As Rohan sat at his desk, the gravity of the situation settling in, tears filled his eyes. He had succeeded. He had jumped, confronted his fear, and begun. At this point, his fantasy was coming true.

After some time, Rohan's book was released and quickly became a bestseller. However, the lesson he had learnt was more important than his achievement or notoriety. He was where he was because he had the guts to start, no matter how little the step. Finding the strength to take that initial step had always been the most difficult aspect, not the difficulties or hurdles.

Rohan realized that his voyage had only just begun as he gazed out his apartment window at the city below. Success, he had learned, was not a destination but rather the bravery to start, to take that first step, and to keep going forward in spite of all the uncertainties and concerns that stood in the way.

Knowing that he had discovered his true calling and that nothing was insurmountable for those who dared to start, Rohan grinned.

-I hope the spooky story was enjoyable! If you require any changes or another story, please let me know. Thank You.-