I’m sure you’ve seen this quote somewhere on the internet….Swiping through your Facebook feed, scrolling through pinterest, that sort of thing. But have you ever stopped to think how it relates to your own life?
Think about it. No one is born an expert at anything. Babies have to learn how to eat, talk, walk, the whole nine yards. Do babies quit trying to stand after they fall the first time? Heck no. They may have gotten scared after falling. They may stop trying for a few days or weeks, but they eventually always get back up and keep trying. And you know what? They succeed. (Yes, I understand that babies don’t have the intellectual ability to make fear-based decisions like adults, but the gist is still the same.) Learning how to do something — anything — just takes time.
As we age, trying new things and being adventurous doesn’t come as naturally as it did when we were young. That’s a fact. But why is trying something new that scary? Because people don’t like suckng. It is uncomfortable.
But guess what? You cannot grow, create or thrive inside your comfort zone. So whether it’s learning how to be a photographer, write a book, or run a marathon — you’re not going to be an expert right away. You just can’t let that stop you. You can’t be afraid to suck because you will suck…at first. And then you’ll start sucking a little less and then sooner or later you’re going to be amazing.
You currently have a front row seat to me trying something new with this community — this little ‘side hustle’. Being super self critical, this venture was extremely scary for me. I am rigidly organized. I HAVE to have all the facts before starting something. I create contingency plans and analyze every small detail. I realized though, that all the researching and studying I was doing for this community was my way of avoiding knowing what would happen if I was brave enough to suck at something new.
I’m not really sure where the exact change of mind happened with Resilient Women Rise, but at one point I just said IT’S TIME and pulled the trigger (or rather, bought the domain). Was I scared to fail? Of course. I was scared my friends and family would think it was a dumb idea. I was scared to look my husband in the eye if I couldn’t recoup the money I spent. I was scared my thoughts and opinions on the internet would prevent me from getting another job someday. (I am also anxious and highly self-conscious, if you can’t tell.) I typically shy away from the spotlight. So what the heck was I thinking when I wanted to start Resilient Women Rise?
After a series of highly non-scientific opinion polls with friends and family, I realized I wasn’t the only person craving exactly this sort of place. A place for women who are a little bit scared to try anyways. A place for women to talk about their fears and celebrate their wins. I wanted to create a space for all of these women and I simply told myself I would learn along the way, so that’s exactly what I’m doing. Am I an expert at all this website stuff yet? Absolutely not. Is it stopping me? Nope. This is me being brave enough to suck at something new.
What are you NOT trying because you’re scared? Want to lose weight? Your starting point could be going for a walk today. Want to learn how to play guitar? Your starting point could be searching for a used one online. Want to start a business? Pull out a pad of paper, write down your goals and brainstorm what resources you need to get your idea off the ground.
Whatever it is that you aren’t doing because you feel like you don’t know how, or you don’t have enough experience…Just start. You are never going to know if you can if you don’t try. Start today, even if you don’t know how. Seriously.
This journey has taught me to put myself out there — to be brave — and that’s pretty awesome in my book. I’ve found this new resiliency inside of me to try something new, try something scary, and work at getting better. I’m learning from my peers, doing research when I can, and having fun with it. I challenge you to do the same. Start something new, let us know what you’re up to and we’ll be here to cheer you on!
Xo
Lori Larsen