Courage to begin: why starting is the bravest thing you'll ever do

It’s not about being ready; it’s about choosing to begin, even when it’s hard

The courage to begin always feels terrifying. The first time you drive alone after getting your license. For some, it’s exciting. For others, the fear hits harder than expected. Flying solo, giving your first presentation, stepping in front of a camera, launching a business, all beginnings come with resistance. We know starting is hard, but still, something in us believes the first attempt should be flawless.

But what if you reminded yourself that the lightbulb wasn’t invented on the first try, but after over a thousand failed ones? Would you still show up for your dream? Or would fear convince you to wait, again?

Success isn’t about talent, it’s about trying

Those who succeed aren’t always the most gifted, they’re the ones who keep trying.

They’re willing to fail more often than most are even willing to begin. Not because they’re fearless, but because they understand this truth:

You don’t earn progress through perfection. You earn it through presence.

You don’t rise by waiting to be ready. You rise by daring to begin.

You’re not meant to be a master on day one

The voice in your head telling you you’re not good enough? That’s not truth. That’s fear in disguise.

No one is great when they start. And that’s exactly how it should be. Growth doesn’t come from knowing everything, it comes from daring to show up anyway. The courage to begin isn’t about getting it right. It’s about having the guts to get it wrong, and still keep going.

What if the only thing in your way is belief?

If someone else can do it, why not you? And if your answer is filled with excuses or doubt, ask yourself where those thoughts are coming from. Are they yours? Or were they handed to you by fear, trauma, or old stories you never chose?

The courage to begin starts with unlearning.

Consistency, clarity, and the courage to begin again

There’s no secret formula, only this:

Show up. Stay curious. Keep going.

Some find their path within a job. Others by building something of their own. What matters is that it’s yours. The moment you stop outsourcing your choices, that’s when everything changes.

Nothing is truly yours, and that’s freeing

You’ll lose your job. Your plans will shift. People you love will come and go.

There’s nothing to cling to.

And that’s not morbid, that’s freedom. When you realize you have nothing to lose, you also realize you’re free to begin. Life’s too short to play it safe, to delay your dreams in the name of being “ready.”

Start before you’re ready. Trust that you’ll learn the rest.

Imperfect beginnings are still beginnings

This blog? Far from perfect.

Just a few thoughts, put into words.

But shared anyway, because I’d rather begin messy than wait forever.

So here’s your reminder:

Whatever you’re holding back on, write it, say it, try it.

Your first step doesn’t have to be clear. It just has to be yours.

For me, one of those beginnings was buying a one-way ticket to Spain, without a clear plan, just a clear knowing that it was time to go. I wrote more about that step in this blog: Step into the Unknown