It's difficult to get started-when it comes to dealing with an

Hear the words of Lyle Lovett, singer and poet of the modern age, who once confessed: “It’s difficult to get started—when it comes to dealing with an unknown quantity, people are reluctant to trust their own opinion. It helps if two or three people give you a boost.” In this saying lies a truth as old as humankind itself: that beginnings are always the hardest, that the shadow of the unknown causes hesitation, and that the voice of encouragement can be the difference between stagnation and flight.

For what is the unknown quantity but the great mystery that surrounds every new endeavor? To step forward into unfamiliar ground requires courage, yet the human heart often falters. We doubt our own judgment, fearing that we are blind in the dark. And so Lovett observes that many cannot bring themselves to act until another voice whispers: “Go on, you can do this.” In that moment, the impossible becomes possible, not because the mystery is gone, but because courage has been awakened.

The ancients knew this truth well. Consider the voyage of Columbus. He set sail into an ocean feared by many, across waters few had dared to cross. At first, even his own men doubted him, their trust shaken by the endless horizon. Yet when a few companions urged the crew to hold steady, when voices of courage rose above the voices of despair, the ships pressed on—and the New World was revealed. Columbus may have led, but without that boost from others, the journey might have turned back.

So too in the world of art and invention. Thomas Edison endured thousands of failures before bringing forth the light bulb. Alone, his doubts might have silenced him. Yet those around him urged him forward, giving him the confidence to trust his own experiments. And so he pressed on, and in time, darkness itself was banished from the night by the flame of his creation. Here again we see the wisdom of Lovett’s words: beginnings require courage, and courage is often strengthened by encouragement.

And yet, Lovett also teaches that the ultimate work is still ours. Others may give us a boost, but we must learn to trust our own opinion, to act even when the unknown looms large. For no great achievement was ever made by those who waited for certainty. Every hero, every thinker, every builder of nations stepped first into the fog, guided by faith in themselves. Encouragement is a gift, but trust in one’s own spirit is the foundation upon which all progress is built.

O seekers, take this lesson to heart: do not despise the power of encouragement. A single word spoken in kindness, a single gesture of support, may lift another from hesitation into destiny. Be among those who offer the boost, who light the torch for others. And in your own life, seek companions who believe in you when your own belief wavers. Together, you will find the strength to begin.

Practical is this wisdom: when faced with an unknown quantity, do not wait for perfect knowledge. Begin, even with trembling hands. Ask for help when you need it, and give help when you can. Surround yourself with those who will cheer your steps, and be willing to cheer theirs in return. For in the end, progress is rarely the work of one soul alone—it is the chorus of many voices, lifting one another toward the light.

Thus Lyle Lovett’s words endure as a guide for every generation: starting is always the hardest part, and the unknown will always stir doubt. But with trust in yourself, and with the boost of others, the path opens. And once you have begun, the way forward becomes clearer, until what was once feared becomes the ground of triumph.