Embracing the Beginner’s Mindset 🌈
What is it about the beginners mindset that is so scary? It is the epicenter, the birth place of when the idea and action of that idea finally come together and you think… Okay, I am going to do this and see what happens.
The beginner's mindset becomes a melting pot of fear, excitement, doubt, confidence, and the unknown all mixed together to create this strange soup and you have no idea how it will turn out.
Think back to a time where you started a new job, a creative project, school, went on a trip, or started your own business. When you trusted and took the leap into the unknown, think about that moment or made that decision and how you felt. Now… about the present moment, reflect on how everything turned out and what steps and avenues you took to get here.
To have the beginner’s mindset, you need to be in the present moment. Taking one step at a time, putting one foot in front of the other. You can reflect on the past, you can plan for the future but the only way you get to where you want to go is by being present. That includes the messy middle that nobody but you sees. That’s all part of the learning process, you have to get messy in order to learn what works and what doesn’t.
When I finished my 200hr YTT, I was so excited. I quickly found out how hard it was to find a teaching job. Conceptually, I had an idea of where to go and what the next steps were. But there was a lot of time in the messy middle where I was just going through the motions, and that was really hard. I had fear and doubt about going down the path of the yoga teacher. In the end, I decided to take a break from teaching and thought to myself, this isn’t for me.
Fast forward 8 years later, the wanting came back. I realized that I needed to go through some growing and healing in order to come back to myself. Figure out a way to show up as my authentic self in the yoga world and find my voice. So, I am back at the beginning with a little doubt and fear. This time, instead of starting from scratch, I have the foundation laid out already. Even though it is easier to pick this back up, I have to keep showing up even on the days that I do not want to.
A few take-aways I have had from starting again:
Showing up and starting is hard
I don’t need to rush, things will unfold as they are meant to unfold
Ideas and concepts are incubating and forming into tangible things
I’m showing up and slowly making progress
It’s okay to be in liminal space.
When you are starting at the beginning, the biggest hurdle is showing up for yourself. Remember, things take time and you don’t have to have all the answers right away. Making time for the thing you want to do, this will allow the doubt and fear your brain conjures up to dwindle, because now this is just part of the routine.
The beginner’s mindset is a space to play, brainstorm, and show up as your authentic self! Think of this space as a nebula of ideas and endless possibilities.
