Why Is It So Hard to Start Something? Overcoming Fear and Perfectionism

Why Is It So Hard to Start Something?

“Just start.” It sounds simple enough—take the first step towards your goal, put yourself out there, and begin. But let’s be honest: starting is rarely as easy as it sounds. Personally, I hesitate to start for two reasons:

1. I want it to be flawless—something that feels complete and extraordinary.

2. I don’t want to feel like an impostor—worrying that I’ll come across as if I don’t belong or don’t know what I’m doing.

   
   

As a creative, my mind is constantly overflowing with ideas. Some days, I’m inspired and full of potential; other days, I feel weighed down by my own expectations. It’s like having a million tabs open in my brain—each idea begging for attention but none getting the focus they deserve. And if I’m honest, fear creeps in. What if I start and it’s not good enough? What if I put myself out there and don’t measure up?

A Fresh Start

Funny enough, I did start this blog early in 2024. I had big plans back then: create a marketing blog, offer services, and build a thriving business. It felt like a logical, solid plan. But now, starting at the beginning of 2025, I’m looking at a blank blog and a completely different vision for what I want to create.

Looking back, I realize I wasn’t ready—not because I lacked skill, but because I wasn’t clear on my purpose. I thought success was about building a business and making money doing what I’m good at. But over the past year, I’ve learned that my purpose lies in something deeper: impact.

It’s not about perfection or appearances—it’s about authenticity. It’s about sharing what I’ve learned, being real about the messiness of growth, and empowering others to embrace who they truly are.

The Courage to Begin Imperfectly

Starting something new is awkward and uncomfortable—and you might not be great at it—but what sets you apart is that you started, and they didn’t.

Let’s talk about starting. It takes courage because, let’s face it, when we start something new, we’re usually not good at it. Starting rarely looks beautiful or graceful. It’s messy, awkward, and uncomfortable.

The problem is that when we look at others’ success, we often only see the finished product—the years of effort, the 10,000 hours they put in to master their craft. We miss the beginning stages, the stumbles, and the mistakes that came before.

For example, I don’t consider writing to be my natural talent. I have a lot to say, but I struggle to figure out how to say it. #wordsarehard I worry about being judged, about not living up to some imagined standard. But I also know that I'll never get better if I don’t start.

What’s Next

This blog is my way of starting something with a bigger purpose than money or success. It’s imperfect, and I have no idea where it will lead. But starting here, with all its flaws, is better than staying stuck with another year gone by and a blank page.

So, if you’re hesitating to start because you’re afraid of being bad at it, remember that everyone is bad at the beginning. The important thing is to take the first step, embrace the awkwardness, and trust that growth will come.

So here I am, hitting “publish,” knowing it’s not perfect and that I’m still figuring things out. But I’m starting anyway, and that’s enough for now.