Buddha’s Insight on Habit Formation: The Power of Starting and Completing
One quote attributed to Buddha, which I find illuminating, expresses a sentiment that has served as inspiration for the products I work on with Rode & Ankor. The quote reads:
“There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting.”
I’m always in awe of quotes and teachings where not only is the message so powerful, but the fact that it is also so simply put reflects a universal truth: less is more. As simple as the quote is, you can easily apply it to various aspects of life, and ultimately, that should be the intent.
The sole purpose of the quote is to tell you to “do whatever it is you want to do, and see it through.”
Starting something is always the best way to bring about change; to not let life happen to you, but to rather take charge and really live life. Often times, however, we start something and leave it unfinished — either because we no longer are motivated or “life happens”. At that point, the work you have poured into starting essentially becomes moot and wasted. This is the point where you need to find some additional motivation to really go “all the way”, as Buddha proposes.
This is not advocating for doubling down whenever you have a valid reason not to move forward — this is not to justify “sunk costs”. But the overall message should easily reach anyone who needs to hear this: this is a reminder that you should start, don’t dwell too much and take that first step. And once you do, finish what you started.
These two principles — simple as they may sound — will take you to places you have never been before.
Let’s do this.
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