When the Rest of Your Life Feels Overwhelming, Start Small

I remember graduating college and feeling like life had opened into a wide, empty plain. So many directions I could go—yet no clear signs pointing the way.

In the weeks leading up to graduation, I knew exactly what I wanted to do: move to New York City and work in magazines. But it felt overwhelming to me; is it a good idea? Where do I live? What if I don’t make enough money? How do I get there? Who can I trust? What if I fail? 

No one talked about how mentally exhausting it is to want to move forward but not know how. I knew what I liked, but I didn’t know how to turn that into a career, a lifestyle, or even a single confident step. There were no arrows, no guarantees, just… a blank map.

So what do you do when it feels like the options are endless, but the yesses are few and far between?

Where to Start Your ‘Real-World’ Journey

One of my favorite quotes is from Rumi: “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” Meaning—take the first step, and the rest will begin to reveal itself.
It’s kind of like when people say you can’t connect the dots looking forward, only backward. At the time, things may feel scattered. But later, you realize how each step helped build the bigger picture.

Author Daniel Pink shared a similar idea in a 2023 podcast. When asked what advice he’d give to young, ambitious people who don’t know where to begin, he said:

“Start small. Do one thing. Don’t try to answer the big question with a 10-year plan. Ask yourself: What could I do today? What would be my biggest contribution today? Then do that. And do it again tomorrow.”

He also flipped the idea that we need to figure everything out before we act. In reality, the opposite is true: we act, and through that action, we begin to figure it out.

And while it sounds simple, it takes courage. Especially when you’ve spent years being told to have a plan, a passion, a major, a purpose. Shifting from “I need to know” to “I just need to try” feels uncertain—but that’s where real growth lives.

Here’s How to Take it Day-by-Day

So how do you actually start small when you feel the pressure to go big?

Here’s how to break it down and build forward momentum—even when you’re unsure:

• Choose one small action that aligns with what excites or interests you right now. Maybe it’s writing one blog post. Reaching out to someone on LinkedIn. Taking a free online course. You don’t have to commit to a career—you’re just collecting clues.
• Let go of the pressure to have a perfect plan. Plans are great, but at this stage, they can also be limiting. Clarity often comes through experimenting, not through obsessing over hypotheticals. It’s OK if your path doesn’t make sense yet. Most people’s don’t.
• Reflect at the end of the day. What felt energizing? What felt draining? I used to keep a “gut-check” journal where I’d jot down what made me feel like I was moving toward something meaningful—even if I couldn’t name it yet. These reflections quietly build self-trust.
• Repeat. Keep showing up. Trying. Learning. Adjusting. You’re not building a career in one day—you’re building the muscle of showing up for yourself. And that will serve you no matter where the path leads.

Think of it like planting seeds. You may not see growth right away, but every small effort adds to something bigger. The day you update your résumé, reach out to a mentor, or try something new—that’s a brick laid toward the future you’re creating.

The Road to Independence Is Paved with Small Steps

You don’t need to have it all figured out to begin. In fact, trying to figure it all out before starting is often what keeps people stuck.

It’s okay if your dream job isn’t clear yet. It’s okay if your passions feel fuzzy. What matters more is learning to move forward—even slowly—without all the answers.

The truth is, emotional and financial independence isn’t built overnight. It’s built in the day-by-day decisions. The emails you send. The risks you take. The way you show up for yourself when the next step feels uncertain.

So start small. Today. Pick one thing. Follow what feels energizing. The path will appear as you walk.

Get the exact strategies I used to land my dream job & 5x my salary—straight to your inbox. Subscribe today.