Why You Need to Start Before You’re Ready
I have been waiting for a long time now. I have been putting things off for a long time now. I have been thinking about taking action for a long time now. There has been too much thinking about putting things off and waiting and not enough DOING.
Why do humans do this? We think about taking action as opposed to actually taking the action!! WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT, PEOPLE?!?!
I suppose I can only speak for myself...I want to be ready! Isn’t that valid? I tell myself it’s best to have all my ducks in a row, acquire all the tools, resources, connections, knowledge, and space I possibly can so that I can accomplish all I want to do in the most effective and prepared manner. Why would I start something if I don’t feel totally ready?! Starting before I am ready freaks me out. It makes failure a possibility, making a fool of myself a possibility, and having to start over a possibility. So, to avoid failure, being perceived as a fool, and starting over, I wait. Taking little action while waiting, I hope, wish, and pray that my perfect time, when I have everything I need, will come my way asap.
This tactic in and of itself is foolish, especially seeing it written out in words.
So, my ducks are not getting in a row. My ducks are all over the dang pond and they do not appear to be getting in a row anytime soon. How am I supposed to begin if I have yet to acquire all the tools I need? That’s a lofty ask of myself -- to begin before I am totally ready?!
When I look out into the world at all the people dancing through life, living abundantly in service, in love, and on purpose, I wonder how they have done it. I envy these people. The ones who have somehow created this magical, masterful life filled with all that they desire and dream of, especially the ones who are on a path similar to the one I dream of journeying on. It’s frustrating, to say the least. I don’t want to be envious; I want to be happy for them because they have figured out a way to manifest the very life they’ve dreamed of, and the life I also dream of, to an extent. So how did they do it?
HOW DID THEY GET THEIR DUCKS IN A ROW?!
They didn’t wait until they were ready, that’s for sure. My True Self and small self are communicating right now. My True Self is telling my small self what she needs to hear even though it means moving through the fear. What a beautiful and divine interaction.
I know that these people who live meaningful, dream-worthy lives did not wait until they were ready because I have read it a million and one times in the past few months. The Universe is funny like that. It works through technology, people, books, billboards, and if you’re conscious of it, almost all aspects of your day. The Universe makes it almost impossible to ignore the lesson I need to learn right now. I am grateful for that and slightly intimidated because I can’t hide.
Jen Sincero is my spirit woman right now. The Universe is certainly working through her in my world. I’ve been reading and working through her book, “You are a Badass, How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life. “ Think Junie B. Jones but self-help edition. Jen is my adult Junie B. I laugh constantly and proceed to send pictures of pages on end to my Mom, who is equally a big Junie B. Jones fan. My laughter is prompted by two things -- Jen’s purely humorous and palatable presentation of self-help and the recognition of my ridiculous limiting beliefs.. Exhibit A: I have to wait until I have all my shit together in order to take the first step towards a project I really want to work on. NOT TRUE.
Jen is firey and direct; I feel her fire and directness in me as I write this.
As I made my way through a chapter in her book titled, “Fear is for Suckers,” I found myself getting a bit uncomfortable. She was calling me out! The Universe was exposing me to the fairy tale I’ve been telling myself. How does the Universe do this? It’s (literally) beyond me. I was underlining and highlighting and taking notes, transferring and relating this newly acquired information back to my current life situation. I looked at all the fear and excuses and resistance I have created for myself, which are preventing me from taking a single step forward. Foolishness, Sarah.
Here is a brief collection of the notes I took from the chapter, “Fear is for Suckers”
To fear or not to fear, that is the question.
It’s so simple; fear will always be there, poised and ready to wreak havoc but we can choose whether we’re going to engage with it or turn on the lights, drown it out, and crawl past it.
Is your fear greater than your faith in the unknown (and yourself)? OR is your faith in the unknown (and yourself) greater than your fear?
On the other side of your fear is your freedom.
Our greatest fears are the greatest waste of time. Face your fears with the truth, that they are all in your mind, and they will lose their power over you.
Which is worse, trying to write [your book] and having it be terrible or never going for it and living an unlived life feeling stupid and ashamed either way.
Fear is all about how you choose to look at things, so by changing your perspective on it you can let the fear of NOT doing the thing you’re scared of fuel your quest to greatness.
End of notes.
There is one major, obvious block here: I am waiting until I am ready and that day may never come.
Growing up, my parents use to always say, “If you want something bad enough, you’ll find a way.” Recently, a second part was added to that phrase: “If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” Isn’t that just the coldest, hardest truth you ever did hear?
It’s really quite simple...Fear is an excuse. Not being ready is an excuse. Waiting around thinking about taking action is an excuse. These fears are all in my mind, playing out potential future train wrecks — failing and looking like a fool being a big one. For the sake of facing my fears with the truth, here is the truth: failure is an integral teacher and other people’s opinions really don’t matter; in fact, they are merely a reflection of their own thoughts and feelings about themselves. My fears are not valid enough to stop me from living a meaningful life.
The people who I see dancing through life, living abundantly in service, in love, and on purpose moved past their fears, left their comfort zones, and started before they were totally ready because their passion outweighed all other excuses they may have had. Their faith in the unknown was far greater than their fear. They made a choice to pursue the life of their dreams no matter how many times they failed and were seen as or labeled a fool. They decided that they had everything they needed to begin regardless of how inexperienced, unprepared, or unqualified they may have felt. With good effort and positive intention, I believe we can do anything, and that is what these people have done. They have moved through life with good effort and positive intention at the forefront of their heart and mind.
“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.” - Lemony Snicket
We may never be totally ready for what it is we want to do, but we don’t have to be! All we have to do is take the first step. When we commit, the Universe commits. My partner, John, once said, “Action unlocks. No action deadlocks.” Some action is always better than no action because it’s showing the Universe that we are taking our dreams seriously. I think it can be as simple as that.
Just keep taking the next most inspirational, fascinating, and probably comfort-zone-leaving step! It’s necessary to get where we want to go.
Jen Sincero is right. Fear is absolutely for suckers. Not following your heart, your dreams, your desires, your passions, because you are scared is silly! Allow the fear of NOT doing the thing you’re scared of fuel your quest to greatness.
You can always take one step in the direction of your dreams. You don’t have to be ready, you just have to do it.
So, what step will you take today? How will you start before you are ready?
Still focusing,
Sarah