“Believe, and Keep Showing Up”
What Ted Lasso, tarot, and psychology teach us about faith in the unseen and the discipline to follow through.
There’s a line from Martin Luther King Jr. that’s been echoing in my mind:
“Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”
Goethe put it another way:
“Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.”
Both point to something that Ted Lasso captures perfectly: belief isn’t about certainty. It’s about showing up — over and over — even when the scoreboard isn’t in your favour, and even when the path ahead is foggy.
Today’s cards reminded me of this: keep showing up for the work, even when you can’t yet see the whole picture.
Belief as the vision
Belief provides the “why.” It’s the quiet, steadying conviction that there’s meaning in the effort, even if the outcome is still out of view. Without belief, we lose heart the moment results don’t arrive quickly enough.
Conscientiousness as the fuel
Psychologists describe conscientiousness as a personality trait marked by self-discipline, careful planning, and follow-through. In plain language: it’s the habit of turning up, doing the work, and doing it well — even when you don’t feel like it.
Conscientiousness is what transforms belief into reality. Without it, belief is just wishful thinking. With it, every small action compounds over time, building the staircase you can’t yet see.
The interplay between the two
Belief without conscientiousness is like a beautifully drawn map that no one ever uses.
Conscientiousness without belief is like walking in circles without a destination.
It’s the combination — vision plus consistent effort — that makes change happen.
🕯️ Reflection prompts
Where in your life are you being asked to act without seeing the full picture?
What’s one small, concrete action you could take today to move forward?
Is your belief strong enough to keep you going when progress feels slow?
Believe. And who knows what you’ll you could achieve.