In this weekly series, we’ll offer up a little wordly inspiration to kick-off your week.
Some simple wisdom, elegant and accessible. From one soul to another.
We hope it helps you ease into your Monday morning.
xo
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
On Being Ready
Ask anyone who knows me well and they’ll tell you that being rushed is one of my biggest pet peeves.
In fact, I’ll get downright indignant if you try and rush me into or out of something.
I like taking my time (a lot of time) with just about everything. From launching a website to picking a spot for dinner to getting dressed each morning.
I relish in taking it slow. It’s my personal flow and I dig it.
I like to feel ready.
But sometimes life requires moving at a faster pace. Sometimes we have to book it, accelerate, dive in, make a choice and run with it.
We don’t feel ready but we gotta groove with it anyway.
Personally, I hate this feeling. In a big way.
Whether it’s my fear of looking a fool or just my perfectionistic tendencies, I like to feel prepared. I want to feel ready.
The interesting thing is, for as long as I can remember I’ve never felt ready. For anything.
I didn’t feel ready to take the SAT my senior year.
I didn’t feel ready to break-up with my college boyfriend (despite the pain and dysfunction).
I didn’t feel ready to claim my dream job in Hollywood.
I didn’t feel ready to stop eating gluten (despite the pain and dysfunction – in my body).
I didn’t feel ready to move to Los Angeles, again.
I didn’t feel ready to say goodbye to my grandma.
I didn’t feel ready to host a workshop and step out as “The Girl Who Knows” officially.
What I’ve learned from not feeling ready (or feeling the fear) and moving forward anyway, has been powerful. And it’s something I’ve had to learn over and over and over again. And I’m guessing I’ll continue to have to learn the lesson for awhile longer.
My big A-Ha?
We’re NEVER ready.
There is always more to learn, more to know, more to see, more to feel, more to edit, more to process, more to get, more to give — more, more, more!
There is no such thing as ready.
How have I gotten myself through the maze of feelings that accompany the fear of moving forward?
By taking a breath, acknowledging that I’m as ready as I’ll ever be, admitting that I feel ill prepared and jumping in head-first anyway.
It’s a bit like sky diving I imagine. You’re up there in the plane, a guy strapped to your back, hovering over the great expanse of land below, and you just have to let yourself jump.
It will feel scary, exhilarating, maybe even like you’re going to die.
But guess what?
You won’t.
In fact, you will feel the most fully alive you’ve ever felt in quite possibly your entire life.
Letting go doesn’t mean you shouldn’t prepare, study, read up, check off your to-do list and Google your heart out.
You should. You absolutely should. Being prepared is the name of the game.
BUT, once you have gathered as much information as you can (if you listen to your intuition, you’ll know when you’re complete), take your notes and your findings and set them aside. Leave room for new ideas to show up. Leave space for the unknown. Because in that space is where all the magic happens.
Don’t worry, you’ll never feel ready. And that’s good news!
It means you can keep on daring to be greater, your visions grander — all the while knowing that this feeling of unreadiness is real and present but not a danger.
It’s just a signal that you’re alive and living on your edge.
Questions + thoughts to muse on this week:
What do you NOT feel ready for? Where in your life are you holding yourself back out of the fear that you don’t have it all figured out?
See if you can take one small step this week towards your bigger vision. Ready or not!
xo
