Though I only just launched this blog, the idea of doing it (and generally having more presence online) has been tumbling around in my head for years.
I have an extensive list of blog post ideas in the “Notes” section on my phone that I’ve accumulated during my time as a coach. A conversation with a client, an observed interaction, a quote that gave me pause. I’d say “this would make for a great blog post”, so I’d add it to my list, “Blog Post Ideas” and there it would sit - just waiting for me to revisit it and give it life.
Yet, there these ideas remained, gathering proverbial dust as I put off starting because it “just wasn’t the right time yet”.
Because...
I didn’t have a website.
I didn’t have enough of a social media following.
I didn’t know what blog platform to use.
I didn’t have a designated writing space.
I didn’t have a nice computer.
I didn’t have time to write.
I didn’t have a catchy (or more importantly pun-ny) name for the blog.
The list of excuses was unending and grew more ridiculous as time went on.
I was convinced that I couldn’t take action, because things weren’t perfect.
Time continued to pass by (as time has the habit of doing) and conditions - surprise! - remained imperfect.
Then the real fun began. The thoughts began to shift from “not yet” to “maybe not ever”.
It still wasn’t the right time and now I was starting to think that what I had to offer the cyber world just wasn’t good enough.
“Everyone else has been doing this for awhile - it’s too late to start now.”
“What new perspective do I have to give?”
“I don’t have anything interesting to say.”
“I’m not really as funny as I think I am.” (Ok...to be honest, I never really believed this one.)
On the outside I was all “Yeah, I’m totally going to do this blog/website/social media thing. I’m just working out the logistics.”
While on the inside my inner voice was screaming “YOU AREN’T GOOD ENOUGH. CHANGE IS SCARY! VULNERABILITY IS SCARY! GO TO YOUR SAFE SPACE!”
So now is the part of the story where I tell you that I dominated all that negative self talk and start every day with a mirror session naming all the things in my life that I love and reciting a plethora of positive affirmations (insert viral video of that really cute little girl here).
Sorry to disappoint.
I still have self doubt AND it’s still not the perfect time.
But that’s OK. Because what I’ve come to realize and embrace is that:
The pursuit of perfection is futile.
Because,
1. It doesn’t exist
And
2. The fear of imperfection discourages us from taking action
While I was wallowing in all the reasons I couldn’t do this, I also wasn’t doing anything to try and prove to myself otherwise.
I wasn’t taking 5 minutes to write in a journal. I wasn’t spending 5 minutes a day engaging with people on social media. I wasn’t watching a YouTube tutorial on website building basics.
I was taking the all or nothing mindset. And (as is generally the case with this kind of thinking) I ended up with nothing but lists of things that I’d do eventually.
Until I had enough of waiting, enough self pity and enough overthinking. I “pulled up my boot straps” and decided to JUST DO IT (unfortunately I’m getting no compensation for this Nike endorsement).
I made a website, uploaded my contacts to a mailing list, wrote a post, said “F&$% it” and hit send.
And it felt good.
I put myself out there and removed the safety net - the worst was over with. And you know what?
It wasn’t even that bad.
And now that I’ve taken action, my thoughts have shifted.
I realize I don’t need to know ALL the techy stuff.
I think the website is good enough for now.
I know that I have plenty of time to write if I plan for it.
I believe I do have interesting things to say and that I’m even funnier than I was before.
But most importantly...I know that nothing I’m doing is perfect.
And I’m not letting that stop me.
It wasn’t about circumstances changing, or a Tony Robbins’ style shift in mindset. It was a commitment to take action, no matter how small and no matter how “imperfect”. A decision to do something uncomfortable before I felt ready to do it.
Yes, IT IS SCARY.
But also, Yes, YOU CAN DO IT.
What are you putting off because it isn’t the “right time”? What are you avoiding doing because you don’t “feel ready” or “good enough” to try?
How can you take even the smallest action rather than letting perfectionism keep you from ever getting started?
What can you do right now - TODAY - to take an imperfect step forward?
Rip that band-aid off baby. It only hurts for a second.
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