The Hardest Part of Change Isn’t Awareness. It’s Effort.

In my article The Unseen Cost of Change, I argued that the hardest part of change is awareness. But after more reflection, I realize I was wrong. Awareness is hard, yes—but it’s not the hardest part. Once I become aware of something, I can let it go or let it stew. Awareness alone doesn’t demand action.

Effort does.

Think about it. How many times have you heard someone say, I know what to do, I just have to do it? People know the principles of weight loss—eat less, move more. They know better sleep habits—don’t take your phone to bed, set a bedtime routine. We know these things.

But knowing isn’t doing.

We consume content at lightning speed, scrolling through perfectly edited TikToks and Instagram reels that shrink someone’s transformation journey into a 60-second highlight reel. Everything looks easier when it’s cut and curated. But the reality? Change takes work.

We have an idea of what’s good for us, yet we hesitate because life is already hard enough. Some days, just making it through is a victory.

I thought about writing a book for two years before I actually wrote it. I love yoga, yet some days, the hardest thing is getting myself to class. I’ve stared at books on my shelf for months before cracking them open. The effort to start—to step outside my comfort zone—is the hardest part.

For me I second guess myself because once you do, it’s not just an idea anymore. It’s real.

And that’s terrifying. Real means risk. Vulnerability. Potential failure. What if you put in the effort to write that book, lose weight, or change careers—and you fail? That fear keeps us stuck in a loop of inaction. We think, we analyze, we consume more content, we watch others do it—without ever taking the first step ourselves. The unknown is paralyzing.

I know because I’ve been there. It’s easier to do nothing. It’s safer. No risk, no failure. But also—no growth, no reward.

The truth is, the other side of effort is always more rewarding than staying still. Even if you don’t achieve exactly what you envisioned, you’re still moving forward. You’re still growing. And growth, no matter how slow, is progress. I failed at writing my book, but would I ever take back that time and effort. Absolutely not. 

So if you’ve been waiting, thinking, hesitating—this is your sign. Make the effort. Take the step. Do the thing. Because staying still might be safe, but movement is where the magic happens.

Why Effort Feels So Overwhelming

One of the biggest reasons effort feels daunting is that we build things up in our minds to be bigger than they are. We imagine the mountain ahead before we even take a single step. We see all the work required and talk ourselves out of starting before we’ve even begun.

We tell ourselves we need the perfect conditions. We need more time, more energy, more motivation. We put things off because we think we need to be ready. But readiness is a myth.

No one ever feels 100% ready to start something new. The most successful people aren’t necessarily the most prepared—they’re the ones who take action despite their doubts. They start before they feel ready, and they figure it out along the way.

Breaking the Cycle of Inaction

If effort is the hardest part, how do we overcome the inertia that keeps us stuck? Here are a few strategies that have helped me push through moments of hesitation:

Start small. Instead of focusing on the entire journey, just focus on the first step. Want to write a book? Start with a single sentence. Want to get in shape? Start with a five-minute walk. Small actions build momentum.

Lower the stakes. Perfectionism can be paralyzing. Remind yourself that progress is better than perfection. Your first attempt doesn’t have to be flawless—it just has to exist.

Create accountability. Share your goal with a friend, mentor, or coach. Having someone check in on your progress makes it harder to back out.

Change your mindset. Instead of seeing effort as a burden, see it as an investment. Every bit of energy you put into something meaningful brings you closer to where you want to be.

Embrace discomfort. Growth is uncomfortable. It’s supposed to be. The people who succeed are the ones who learn to sit with discomfort instead of running from it.

The Reward of Doing

The hardest part of change is effort—but the most rewarding part is seeing what happens when you push through. When I finally wrote my book, it wasn’t just about finishing—it was about proving to myself that I could. When I finally committed to my yoga practice, it wasn’t just about the exercise—it was about showing up for myself.

Taking action, even in small ways, creates a ripple effect. One step leads to another, and before you know it, you’re in motion. You’re no longer just thinking about change—you’re living it.

So if you’ve been sitting on an idea, waiting for the perfect moment—this is your nudge. Take the step. Make the effort. Do the thing.

Because the hardest part isn’t knowing what to do—it’s doing it. And once you do, you’ll wonder why you waited so long. What is that you’ve been thinking about doing but never made the time?