Have you ever told yourself:
I’ll do it when I feel more confident.
I’ll start when I know more.
I’ll say yes when I’m completely prepared.
I’ll put myself out there when I’m ready.
Here’s something I’ve learned over the years:
Ready is overrated.
If I had waited until I felt completely ready for some of the biggest opportunities in my life, I would probably still be waiting.
So much of my life has happened because I said yes before I had everything figured out.
Confidence Usually Comes AFTER You Begin
We tend to think confidence is something we need before we take action. But most of the time, it works the other way around.
You take the step…
You survive it…
You learn something…
You get a little better…
And suddenly, you realize: “Hey, maybe I CAN do this.”
Confidence isn’t always the thing that gets you through the door. Sometimes walking through the door is what creates confidence.
What Are You Waiting For?
Maybe there’s something you’ve been thinking about doing.
Applying for the position.
Starting the business.
Signing up for the class.
Walking into the gym.
Changing careers.
Booking the trip.
Joining the group.
Getting on the stage.
Putting yourself out there in a bigger way.
Or maybe it’s something as simple as wearing the outfit you love instead of wondering what everyone else will think.
We can come up with a hundred reasons to wait.
When I lose ten pounds.
When life settles down.
When the kids are older.
When I have more money.
When I have more experience.
When I’m less afraid.
But life has a funny way of never becoming perfectly convenient. At some point, you must decide:
I’m going to show up anyway.
You Don't Have to Have It All Figured Out
Showing up before you feel ready doesn’t mean being reckless or unprepared. It means accepting that you may never feel 100% certain.
It means trusting yourself enough to take the next step - even when you can’t see the entire staircase.
I think this becomes especially important as we get older. It can be easy to settle into what we know. We become comfortable. We know what we’re good at. We know where we fit.
And then an opportunity comes along that stretches us.
Our first instinct might be:
I’ve never done that before.
Maybe that’s exactly why we should consider doing it. There is no age when we have to stop becoming.
There is no age when we have to stop trying new things, learning new skills, meeting new people, changing direction or discovering another version of ourselves.
I've Never Felt Completely Ready
When I look back at the different chapters of my own life - from fashion and image consulting to health coaching to stepping onto bigger stages - I can't say I entered every new chapter thinking, I've got this completely figured out.
Quite the opposite.
There have been plenty of moments when I wondered if I was experienced enough, prepared enough or confident enough.
But I showed up.
And every time I showed up, I learned.
Every time I stretched myself, I grew.
Every time I did something uncomfortable, my comfort zone got a little bigger.
That’s how we become the person capable of doing the thing that once scared us.
Show Up Scared
Maybe we need to stop waiting for fear to disappear.
Show up nervous, uncertain and imperfect. Show up without knowing exactly how it's going to turn out.
Just show up.
Because the woman you want to become isn’t waiting for you somewhere in the future.
You create her with the choices you make today.
One yes.
One risk.
One uncomfortable conversation.
One new experience.
One brave step at a time.
So, here's my challenge for you during Show Up September:
Think about one thing you’ve been putting off because you don’t feel ready.
Then ask yourself:
What would I do if I stopped waiting to feel ready?
And whatever answer comes to mind...
Maybe it’s time to show up.
Because you don't have to feel ready to begin.
Sometimes beginning is what makes you ready.
