Monday Musing, 10/15/18

Hello Apprentices--

Apologies for missing last week, but as many of you were keenly aware, I was neck deep in Neverland tech and just didn’t get to do any worthwhile musing.

This first quote is from the actor Hugh Laurie:

It’s a terrible thing, I think in life to wait until you’re ready.

I have this feeling now that actually no one is ever ready to do anything.  There is almost no such thing as ready. 

There is only now.

And you may as well do it now.

Generally speaking, now is as good a time as any.

-- Hugh Laurie

My take on his idea of “ready” is that often we use the idea of not being “ready” as a substitute for admitting that we are afraid. We are afraid of failing, and in a real way we are even afraid of succeeding. It’s always tempting to remain in the space of “pining for.” Because that way I won’t have to go through the embarrassment of failing, and should I succeed I won’t have to face the possibility that what I was “pining for” didn’t actually totally fulfill me; I may realize that my dream wasn’t big enough; that achieving X doesn’t mean I’ve “arrived.”

Here’s the thing. Every single ounce of fear that you face down transforms into courage. You can’t have courage and then be brave. That’s entirely backwards. And thus the second quote—attached as a jpg. You first have to act bravely—which is simply acting IN SPITE OF fear—and then lo and behold, much like the cowardly lion, you discover your courage.

Don’t wait to be “ready.” Don’t let fear talk you in to procrastination.

Do it anyways. And do it now.