Start Where You Are

“Done is better than perfect.” - Sheryl Sandberg

That is a quote that I heard back in September when I was taking a newsletter writing workshop with one of my favorite teachers, Sarah Faith Gottesdiener. It is a quote that has turned into a personal mantra. I am able to give myself permission to start and not worry about perfection.

I have found that you don’t need to be an expert on the subject you want to explore (that part will come later). All you need are the tools around you to get that idea out into the world. This creates a little bit of vulnerability and caution because you have now crossed a threshold into the unknown. You have no idea how it will turn out. In your heart you know you have nothing left to lose. That moment when you just go for it.

By just starting, you are forming new habits and practices. When I started to write this newsletter again, I  made an agreement with myself to show up every week and get it sent out. I was nervous to hit the send button and my brain was not helping. As the months have gone on, it has gotten easier to send it out week over week. This newsletter has turned into another practice of mine. I wouldn’t call myself an expert but I am having a fun time exploring the different avenues that this writing practice has taken me down.

Starting where you’re at turns into a cycle of pattern breaking and creates that foundation being vulnerable with yourself. Being okay with messing up and realizing that it doesn’t need to be perfect. You can’t have a start and finish without the messy middle. Allow yourself to be messy and vulnerable. Take your time with the thing that you want to cultivate and just start.

Remember, every teacher has been a student at some point in their life.
Trust yourself. 🙂