Are you waiting for the perfect relationship, the dream job, the “right” time?

Well, I am here to tell you, stop stalling or putting your life on hold to go after what you really want. Consider this your pep talk in the form of a blog post. Fear + comparison have a tricky way of getting into our heads and convincing us we need to have all of our ducks in a row before we can take any step forward... but here’s a little secret, none of us really know what we are doing. But as you start putting yourself out there, you learn new things about yourself, your work, your passions, and you will end up becoming your own greatest teacher simply by EXPERIENCING life through your lens.

If I’ve learned anything about being a creative entrepreneur, it’s that you have to ditch perfection. More often than not, making moves (no matter how big or small) is always better than feeling stuck or stagnant. It’s great to have big dreams and ideas, but it’s the taking ACTION part that sets people apart. Here’s why I think you will never be 100% ready for the next big thing, and you have to take the leap even when you fear the unknown.

Growth > Stagnation.

I’ve usually found that growth happens when you’re on shaky ground. By living on the edge of comfort and discomfort you are allowing yourself to expand and evolve. You open yourself up to new challenges and all of the learnings that come with it. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and sometimes they DO. It’s okay to feel fear. It’s okay to not quite know if you’re cut out for it. But, when you choose to take the risk, you’ll never have to wonder ‘what if’. Follow where your curiosities lead you, and you’ll create a life that’s rich with experience, challenge, and wisdom.

Say YES to the scary things.

The unknown is always scary, but that is the exciting part of life. Let go of those limiting beliefs that you're not enough or that it's too late to begin something new. You've got to trust that you have enough time to accomplish what you want. You call the shots on what you want to do and when you want to do it. YOU create YOUR life. So, don’t let comparison steal your confidence. Say yes to that public speaking gig. Say yes to investing in yourself. Say yes to making new friends and putting yourself out there. And say a big HECKYES to making time in your schedule to explore your interests and the things in life that make you feel excited and curious! Whether you want to take the leap and invest in that LLC and new website design or you simply want to volunteer at a local farm to learn about organic gardening (me!)… you do you.

Brush yourself off.

Taking risks and putting yourself out there won’t always land perfectly. It may be a flop, but regardless you will learn from your experiences and get better. When failure knocks at your door, embrace it, brush it off, and keep going. Persistence is a valuable trait, and it means pushing through the tough moments. If your heart is in it, continue moving forward even when you get pushed backwards, and that consistency will eventually amount to some well-earned grit.

Learn to find happiness in the present moment. 

I read an amazing quote by Brianna Wiest years ago that still sticks with me to this day:

Learn to be happy here, now, today. If you do not learn how to be happy in the present, no job, no partner, no success, no trip, no money, nothing that you are working for will be as enjoyable as you think. You cannot save up your happiness to be released when you think you deserve it. You either have it now or you have it never.

Ain’t that the truth! Start to accept that happiness isn’t a destination that you’ll arrive at someday when you’ve achieved all your goals. Happiness is something to be felt, experienced, and cultivated right here in this moment. The more you can find joy in the present, the more you can drop the expectations that everything has to be perfect before you take the leap. Life is messy, it’s imperfect, it’s a process… but I’m down to keep trying, learning, trying again, and finding fulfillment along the way.

Nothing lasting should come easy. Invest your time. Even invest your money. Most importantly, spend time cultivating your own ideas & creativity. You are worthy of living the life you want to live. No question about it. Like I said, this is your pep talk. Go out there, sister, and create your world! What do ya say?

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