Life can be full of icky, uncomfortable, and demoralizing—but necessary–activities that fill us with dread. Being an adult means having to face things that are unpleasant or downright scary:

Scheduling a dental checkup after a couple of years away

Having that difficult conversation to end a relationship 

Organizing paperwork for tax season

Tackling a household repair you’ve been putting off

Going to the doctor because of that lump you felt while in the shower

When faced with a dreadful task, it’s much easier to burrow in and pretend it doesn’t exist. But, of course, ignoring the inevitable might make a small problem balloon out of control over time.

The first step to facing a difficult task is acknowledging how much it scares you. Once you remind yourself that being scared is only human, you can begin to approach that dreaded things one step at a time. 

Sometimes the toughest obstacle is just getting started.