Just Begin…
4 Feb
{ Photo credit: Tom Saunders via CC by-NC 2.0 license }
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
“The beginning is always today.” — Mary Shelley
Do you worry about your contribution to the world? Do you wonder if you’re doing enough? If you are enough?
Maybe you’re struggling to find your purpose in life.
Maybe you’re starting over, picking up the pieces from the last failed attempt.
Maybe, deep down, you know there’s something special – something really meaningful – trapped inside of you, just waiting to get out and make a difference in the world around you… If only you had the right plan, more time, more talent, more resources, a better idea to start…
The thing is:
There is no perfect plan.
There will never be a right time or a right place.
There is only RIGHT NOW.
Like all perfectionists, my tendency is to spend more time thinking and avoiding than actually doing — because I’m scared of doing wrong.
But failure is a natural part of life. No one makes it through life unblemished, and it’s impossibly unfair to expect yourself to!
Our imperfections are what make us real, what make us unique, and what make us strong. No one else has had to overcome exactly what you had to overcome to get to where you are right now. No one else has your exact combination of experiences and interests and talents and fears.
The more we try to hide our imperfections, the further away we get from who we truly are.
Don’t let your fear of failure hold you back from doing the meaningful work you were put on this earth to do.
It’s not the chances we take that haunt us most; it’s the chances we don’t take. So do yourself a favor and don’t hesitate any longer—start now.
Don’t wait for perfection. Don’t wait until you have all the answers.
The best you can do is to do the best right now with what you have, where you are, at this very moment.
Stop making excuses. Forget about someday. Forget the what ifs and the if onlys.
Be yourself. Be brave. Be gentle. Be open. You’re on an adventure. Trust in the gifts to come.
Just breathe deep and begin . . .
“Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.”
– from Leonard Cohen’s Anthem
Indeed! I’m learning, slowly learning, to do just that. And I need as many reminders I can get so thank you!
Oh, I hear you, Christine! Like authenticity, this is a daily practice–and something I need to remind myself often!
I really needed to read this today. Thanks, Erin! (P.S. I’m turning 31 in March.)