Begin Imperfectly

Do you have a notebook full of ideas that have never seen the light of day? Maybe a potential business you’ve been nurturing secretly by doing endless research, trying to get to the point where you feel “ready” to launch it? What about that book concept you’ve been playing with but haven’t put serious writing time into?

Perhaps you’re starting a new fitness program. Or planning to, anyway. Once you’ve found the right gear and decided on the perfect workout schedule. Soon.

You’re waiting for the right time. You’re not exactly sure when the right time will be, but it’s some hazy point in the future, when life slows down a bit and you have the time to devote to your writing/art/health/business idea/[insert project here].

And look. You're not deluded. You know there’s no “perfect time.” You’ve heard “start where you are” a thousand times over. And you believe it, you really do. You’re almost ready to start. There are just a few things you need to do first.

Well, friends...I think it’s time we admitted to ourselves what’s really going on.

As psyched as we are to begin, we’re also just a little freaked out.

Behind the facade of planning and preparation, we’re really just stalling.

And stalling.

And stalling.

Months pass, years even (…or is that just me?), and the exciting idea remains just that. An idea. Never given the chance to take form, build momentum, and develop, it continues to take up space in our brains, always just hovering the background.

Or worse, the idea you took too long to act on loses its sparkle. After a while, it doesn’t seem that exciting anymore. The luster fades, the motivation fizzles, and you let it drift away. It must have not been the “right” idea. Perhaps you’ll try something else.

If you couldn’t tell, I’m speaking from direct, visceral experience. While in my normal, day-to-day life, I’m a list-making, box-ticking, get-things-done kind of person, my creative life is a completely different story. It’s a story of a hundred abandoned projects, lovely idea seeds that perished from a lack of sunlight, and serial procrastination.

I’m going to be completely transparent here. My stomach is swirling with anxiety as I type this. I’ve been trying to pep-talk myself into taking action for weeks, and somehow every single day I find excuses. I have all the usual hang-ups: I don’t know what I’m doing, I’m “not really creative,” I need to master this skill or that skill or refine my vision and create the perfect daily schedule.

I woke up this morning much earlier than I needed (or wanted) to, and decided to use the time to journal and catch up on some creative content I had saved up to read/listen to.

In a stroke of divine serendipity, I happened upon a post from Halina of The Wild Cherry Farm called “Creating with Authenticity and Moving Out of Feeling Stuck.” I listened to the accompanying video while I doodled in my sketchbook, and found that Halina’s vulnerable, honest words were exactly the medicine I needed this morning.

I finished the video, I finished my coffee, and I knew. I had to take a step forward. Without overthinking, over-editing, or deliberating about font choices. (Ha.) I made myself sit down and type. Perhaps it's messy, perhaps it's a bit disjointed. But, hey--I'm a bit messy and disjointed, too. :)

So here I am, awkwardness, anxiety and all. Listen to Halina’s video and take a step forward in an area you’ve been stuck. Tell me what you did—I’d love to hear about it. Let’s get unstuck together.

Welcome to The Wee Daybook.

Heather