The Moment Before

Small rituals before big changes.

Every journey begins with putting your boots on.

There is always a moment before the visible work begins.

Before the meeting.

Before the difficult conversation.

Before the new role.

Before the decision that shifts something.

It is rarely dramatic.

It is quieter than we expect.

Putting on boots.

Opening a notebook.

Standing still for a few seconds longer than usual.

We often underestimate these moments because they look ordinary.

But they are thresholds.

The space between intention and action.

In work, we are trained to focus on outcomes.

Deliverables.

Milestones.

Impact.

Rarely on preparation of mind.

And yet, the quality of what follows often depends on how we enter it.

Rushed entry creates rushed decisions.

Grounded entry changes the tone entirely.

Putting on boots before stepping into the garden is practical.

But it is also psychological.

It signals: I am entering something.

I am shifting context.

I am choosing to begin.

Not everything needs to start with force. Some things begin better with steadiness.

Before your next big move, notice the small ritual that comes before it.

You may find that it matters more than you think.