Do not begin the first chapter at the very beginning of the plot line. You want to begin as far into the action as possible, when all hell is about to break loose. This provides your audience with a starting point for means of comparison as the plot unfolds and the characters evolve. Many new authors begin their novel with an incident that focuses on characters we never see again. That is not a good idea.
Readers expect the novel to begin with the protagonist.
Beginning any new work is difficult. A blank canvas, a computer file with no bytes, sheet music devoid of notes . . . Do not let chapter 1 unnerve you. Writing is rewriting. You can always revise the chapter until it's sensational.