Brewing Change: Permission to start at 0
How to prepare for seasons of change part 2
Are you the type of person who won’t start until you are the best? Well, this blog post is for you. This is the second part of the blog I started about things to consider when navigating change. Yesterday we discussed comparison, today we unpack how to be a beginner. Seasons of change force you to start as a novice sometimes, as uncomfortable as it may feel, there is a lot to learn about trying, failing and trying again.
Life can push us into seasons of change which are often characterised by milestones or endings. That can be: graduations, leaving a job, moving countries. They are all bittersweet endings, but also signify direct new beginnings. One of the best things you can do is to get used to starting new things. Get used to being a beginner. If you are, in my case, a student who has gone through all their education doing quite well in terms of grades, you come to think of yourself as a high achiever. This is great for your self esteem, but the issue comes when you then stick to things that fit that narrative. You only do things that flex your existing skills and shy away from things you’re not amazing at. You think you are helping yourself, but you are actually just limiting your potential. You think you are sticking to your strengths, but you are actually highlighting a weakness. The fear to be seen trying.
The only thing more embarrassing than trying, is to be seen trying. But guess what, when you start in whatever season of change you are entering, you are going to be seen trying anyways. That can be by your boss, colleagues, friends, family etc… You need to train your mind from now on to get used to trying.
Your brain learns with patterns and it's very clever to draw parallels to things that you don’t even think to connect. If you learn to embrace new beginnings with curiosity instead of fear, your brain will begin to associate discomfort with growth rather than failure. Think of the first time you learned to ride a bike, cook your own meal, or speak in front of a class. You were nervous, maybe even bad at it, but eventually, it became second nature. The same principle applies to anything new, whether it’s starting a job, moving to a new city, or picking up a new creative skill. You’re not starting from nothing; you’re starting from experience, even if that experience is just learning how to learn.
So, let change be your teacher, not your enemy. Let trying be your habit, not your fear. Because the people who truly go far aren’t necessarily the most talented, but the most adaptable. They’re the ones who show up willing to try, willing to fail publicly, and willing to grow. Life is made up of many seasons, and the best way to honour them is not by resisting the discomfort they bring, but by leaning into the opportunities they offer.
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