12 January 2026 • 4 min read • By James Hamell
When life feels difficult or stagnant, people often assume they need a big change.
A new plan.
A burst of motivation.
A complete reset.
In reality, progress usually starts much smaller than that.
It starts with doing one hard thing.
This isn't about punishment or suffering for the sake of it.
A hard thing is simply something you're avoiding because it feels uncomfortable.
It doesn't have to be dramatic.
It just has to require a small amount of courage.
Waiting to feel ready keeps people stuck.
Doing one hard thing bypasses motivation completely.
You're not asking yourself to change everything.
You're asking yourself to show up once.
That single action sends a clear signal:
"I can act, even when it's uncomfortable."
Over time, that matters more than positive thinking or insight.
Avoidance trains your nervous system to associate discomfort with danger.
Action does the opposite.
Each time you face a small challenge and survive it, your system learns something important:
"This is uncomfortable, but it's manageable."
That's how confidence is built in real life.
Not through hype, but through exposure and follow-through.
Trying to do too much at once usually backfires.
One hard thing:
Once you've done one, everything else feels slightly lighter.
Not easy. Just lighter.
At the start of the day, ask yourself:
"What's one thing I don't want to do, but know I should?"
Do that first, or at least commit to doing it today.
Then stop.
Anything else you do is a bonus.
This isn't about becoming relentless.
It's about becoming someone who doesn't avoid their life.
You don't need to be fearless.
You don't need to be motivated.
You don't need to overhaul everything.
You just need to do one hard thing today.
Tomorrow, you do it again.
That's how strength is actually built.