Stop Getting Ready and Just Get Started

 

Pursue your dreams illustration

We are all capable of coming up with brilliant ideas. But here’s the problem: a lot of people are too busy getting ready for these ideas, which often leads to a lack of execution. It can be easy to put off starting a new project until you have developed the perfect website, taken ten online courses, or lost ten pounds.

I have met people (including myself) who were getting ready for something big (changing careers, starting a business, moving to a new country, etc.), and a few years later they were still in the preparation stage. This idea of needing to have everything perfectly aligned before beginning a creative endeavor harms our creativity, makes us feel exhausted, and keep us from taking action.

In this age of information, it is easy to fall into the trap of consuming content and thinking we are being productive when we’re actually not. When you tell yourself that you “just need to watch one more video before getting started,” that’s procrastination disguised as “research.” Don’t allow procrastination, self-sabotage, and perfectionism get in the way of your dreams.

My advice for you is to stop getting ready and just get started! While some crafts/projects/careers might require certain preparation and education, the truth is that our skills will improve as we practice. In her book Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg writes:

People often begin writing from a poverty mentality. They are empty and they run to teachers and classes to learn about writing. We learn writing by doing it. That simple. We don’t learn by going outside ourselves to authorities we think know about it.”

Back in January, I came up with the idea to sell prints of my art. But part of me feared that if I monetized my special thing, it would lose its magic – that it would feel like work instead of play. But it wasn’t like that at all! On the contrary, starting my creative business gave me a boost of energy and empowered my craft. And while some people might think it’s too soon, this is the truth:

It’s never too early to start living the life that you love. Click To Tweet

I have been drawing since I was in fourth grade. I have given my craft the time it needed to grow. And I don’t think there will ever be a time when it’ll be perfect. I think my art will continue to evolve and improve with years. The creative life, just as life itself, will always be a work in progress.

Launching my art shop today is a big win for me. It only has two of my favorite pieces for now, but I will continue to add/remove art as I go down this path. If you would like to celebrate this achievement with me, you can visit my online shop, give me a virtual high five, and maybe even a little happy dance.

I’m not necessarily saying that you should approach your creative projects with a sense of urgency. Though, to be honest, you probably should. Life is too short to live in a state of permanent preparation. So start taking action and do what your heart desires!

Finally, I’d like to share with you this short video. It’s less than a minute long but it holds the core message of this post. I hope it will inspire you to take a small action today.

 

Author: Jessica Araus

Jessica Araus is a mixed media artist and illustrator living in the Netherlands.

2 Replies to “Stop Getting Ready and Just Get Started

  1. I love the message of the post! I agree on we take too much time on getting ready and that sometimes we already lost the opportunity to get the things that we want. Thanks for this! It serves a reminder that things will just fall into place once we actually start moving. 🙂

    1. Exactly! Things start falling into place once we make the first move. And the universe is always conspiring to make our dreams happen. We just need to start. Thanks for your comment Herah! 🙂

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