In my lectures at the university, we talk a lot about big concepts—complex theories, end-of-term goals, and the pressure to perform. But recently, I shared a different kind of lesson with my students. It wasn’t about English grammar or project management; it was about the physics of progress.

We often get paralyzed by the size of the mountain. We look at the summit—the finished degree, the fluent language, the perfect career—and we freeze.

My advice to them, and my reminder to myself today, is simple:

If all you can do is take one step, then take one step.
Growth isn’t a straight line. It’s a messy cycle: You get on the path. You fall off. You get back on. Rinse and repeat.
We tend to punish ourselves for the “falling off” part, but that is just as much a part of the process as the walking. So, if you are stuck today, give yourself permission to move slowly. Or backwards. Just don’t stop dreaming.
As C.S. Lewis said, “For broken dreams, the cure is, dream again and deeper.”

(Image Note: I usually pair this with ‘Moonboat’ by Ida Rentoul Outhwaite, a reminder that even small vessels can sail the night sky.)