Congratulations! You're Uncomfortable!!!! 🎉 💃🏻 ✨
You Can't Do Something New Without Being Uncomfortable #FACT
Did you know you can go on YouTube and watch a video about how to build a house?
Seriously. You can watch a 21 plus minute video called, “Step By Step - How to Build a House.” If 21 minutes is too long, you can watch a 15 minute one called, “Building a House in 10 Steps.”
And if you’re really pressed for time, you can watch a time lapse video of a build that’s only 9 minutes long.
Now, what if you think house building is a thing you really want to do? Like, all of a sudden you realize, THIS IS MY PASSION!!! I want to build mansions and tiny houses and cottages and ranches and capes and tudors and those really modern type houses and those sorta odd ski lodge type looking houses and EVERY KIND OF HOUSE EVERYWHERE!
Well, then you can watch all the videos. And then you can watch some more. (You KNOW there are more videos on YouTube for house building.)
And then you can read books about house building. Eventually, you can learn everything there is to know about building a house.
Serious question: Are you now qualified to actually build a house? Do you think anyone would hire you to build a house for them?
Hell, no.
Eventually, you’re going to have to buy material, pick up a tool or two, and ACTUALLY BUILD A HOUSE.
AND…..
Before you do THAT……
You’ll probably want to ask someone who already builds houses for a living to teach you how to do it, probably by working for them, so you can learn how to do all the things, step by step.
Uncomfortable, right? Maybe a little intimidating?
Because odds are, you’re not going to be very good at it at first. Odds are, it’s going to feel awkward and weird.
Doing it will feel uncomfortable and you won’t like that feeling of not being good at it. This is what you love and you so desperately want to be good at it! You want people to love it as much as you do.
But that’s why you learn from someone else — because they can teach you how to get better while you’re doing it — because that’s the only way to become good at it.
Yes, it’s uncomfortable.
And that’s how you know you’re making progress. 💪
Stop Thinking, Start Doing
We get so caught up in thinking we have to be good at something the first time we do it. We get so caught up in it that we tell ourselves we don’t know enough yet. We need to learn more. Once we learn more, then we’ll be ready!
The problem is we never get past the researching and learning, and start the doing.
For the longest time, I wanted to write.
So I learned and took courses. Eventually, though, I had to start writing.
In public.
Where people could see it.
And comment on it.
And it was uncomfortable and scary.
And what happened?
I got a ton of encouragement and validation from other writers. I got advice and help. I got all that because I put myself out there and did the thing I was afraid of doing. And other people who’d been in that place before saw it and understood how it felt.
We’re so caught up in the fear of not being good enough or being criticized that we don’t consider that there are people out there who WANT our gifts, and WANT to encourage us.
I know it sucks but…
You cannot do something new without feeling uncomfortable!
“But what if I’m bad at it?”
Bruh.
Honestly, I’d be shocked if you weren’t. It’s new! You’ve never done it before. Why would you expect to be anything BUT bad at it?????
NO ONE SHOULD EVER FEEL BAD ABOUT NOT BEING GOOD AT SOMETHING THEY’VE NEVER DONE!
Where do we get this ridiculous idea — Yes, that’s a judgment and I stand by it. It’s ridiculous. — that we have to be outstandingly good at something we’ve never done before?
Babies don’t get caught up in being “good enough” to walk before they try it.
And no one is disappointed in a baby when they don’t get that walking thing down on their first try.
GIF credit: https://media.tenor.com/cZ9dqIXOQx8AAAAM/no-nooo.gif
We do not judge them. We don’t think they’re failures.
We are EXCITED for them! We clap and cheer! We encourage them!!
THAT’S what we should do for each other AND ourselves.
You did it!
You hit publish!
You hit send on the email!
You made the offer!
You. 👏 Are. 👏 A. 👏 Badass. 👏
GIF credit: https://media.tenor.com/S6LMOrqKVykAAAAM/fuck-yeah.gif
Does it feel weird and uncomfortable?
That’s okay.
You’ve never done this before so you don’t know what it feels like. You don’t have anything to compare it to. Just take it in. It might be different next time. Right now, though? THIS is your experience. There will never be another one like this one.
I have so much to say here lol.
First, amazing headline because when I saw a big CONGRATULATIONS in my inbox I thought I won something 😂😂😂 I had to click!
Second, I love you for posting this. It is SO true and it's also soooo the way I felt when I posted something FOR SALE on my pub the other day. I was so scared...even though I'd done the thing for a decade and know what I'm talking about!!! I've never sold or taught my knowledge before.
You've written all the encouragement anyone needs to take a leap of faith!
I stopped thinking and started writing. It's still and new thing for me and feels uncomfortable as hell. Hosting workshops, also something new I started doing that takes a lot of convincing myself I can do it...
I needed to read this. The silly thing is, I tell my daughter this all the time - "it's your first time doing <fill in whatever it is she is trying, horse riding, cartwheels, painting...> you can't expect to be good at it if you've never done it before. Practice makes better". But, somehow, it doesn't apply to me 😄.
Thank you! I'll save this and come back to read it when I need a reminder.