Shiraz Baboo is a coach and self-proclaimed “Reality Interventionalist” whose work is called Energetic Magic.  In one of his daily email messages, Shiraz posted the following:

Truth Bomb:

“I’m not ready” is a lie dressed up as caution.

Why This Matters:

Most of the time, when people say they’re “not ready,” what they really mean is, “I’m scared.” But fear of the unknown is not the same as unreadiness. Growth never feels comfortable. If you’re waiting to feel 100% ready before taking action, you’ll wait forever. Readiness is something you generate by moving — not something you earn by staying still. Courage is messy. But momentum builds confidence. Stop calling fear “logic.” It’s time to call it what it is — and walk through it anyway.

Women Over 50: Are You Ready?

This stunned me, and it reminded me of a saying I heard many years ago: “It’s like waiting in the garage with your car running until all the lights turn green.” You’re never going to feel “ready” if you’re trying something entirely new, or something important that you want to do in a new and different way.

Does this resonate with you? If so, what is it you really want to do that you feel as if you’re not ready to do? 

Now, maybe it’s true that you can’t get started yet. There may be preparations you need to make before you can begin, but usually this is not the case. As my friend Caterina Rando likes to say, “Stop getting ready to get ready.” 

What Stops Us?

What stops us from taking the necessary first step? Sometimes it’s fear of failure, which is a real possibility if we’re trying something new. I think of the women I’ve coached over the years who want to leave their current corporate jobs and start their own businesses. What they’re asking for is a guarantee that what they want to do will be successful. When you see others working through something like this, it might be clear to you that the guarantee they want is not possible. This clarity is often lacking when you’re the one sitting in the middle of the dilemma.

Sometimes hesitance to get started is due to imposter syndrome: “Who am I to try something like this? If I fail, everyone will see that I’m not the person they think I am.” I once heard someone say that if you’re feeling imposter syndrome, it means you’re trying something new. Isn’t it a relief to define it that way?

Is It Fear?

My friend Amy Colette is a writing coach. She often talks about the fear people feel when they want to begin writing a book, or even their second book. They can be afraid of many things, but often it’s something like opening themselves up “for all to see.”  

I’ve had several friends who have wanted to embark on different physical challenges, like running a marathon or walking the Camino de Santiago. Everyone I’ve ever heard talk about doing something like this says they’re not ready. Now, maybe they really aren’t, and they need to do some more training. The question becomes, how much training does one need in order to feel really ready for a significant physical challenge? I’ve done the California AIDS Ride, a 545-mile bicycle ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, four times, and even by the fourth one, I didn’t feel ready.

What Are YOU Waiting For?

Right now, think of something you’ve been wanting to do and just haven’t done. It can be something significant, or not. How long have you been wanting to do it? Examine why you haven’t done it yet. Do you ever say to yourself or to others that you’re not ready yet? If so, what is behind that feeling? Are there concrete things you need to put in place or acquire before you can begin? Women Over 50: Are You Ready? What are you waiting for? 

Don’t beat yourself up over this. Based on the very positive reaction to Shiraz’s post, “I’m not ready” must be a common refrain. But learn from it. If it’s fear, what is the fear so far as you can identify it? Is whatever you fear actually true or real? If the fear of failing is holding you back, as Shiraz says, just walk through it. It will not dissipate if you stay still. It only will begin to diminish by taking action. What is the first small step you will take?

If what I’ve said feels familiar to you, let us know below so we can learn from one another.

Learn More…

The Prime Spark Membership Community is designed for women age 50 (or close) and older to support one another. We learn and grow together while furthering the mission of Prime Spark. Membership currently is closed. If you’re interested in joining, please send an email to [email protected] and ask to be placed on the waitlist.

To learn more about Prime Spark, go to www.primesparkwomen.com.