New routines can be really difficult, right, Team? Whether it’s adding a fitness class, tweaking my nutrition, carving out time for positive Self-Talk work, or even just cutting back on TV—in the beginning, I find there’s always some discomfort involved in meaningful change. But what I have to remind myself is that, often, being too comfortable is exactly why I invited change in to begin with.

I’m reminded of something my cousin Christian shared with me that his old golf coach, Hank Haney, used to say: “Nothing is fun until you’re good at it.” So simple, but so true, right Team?! And, of course, the only way I can get good at something is to be willing to power through that uncomfortable beginning when I’m no-good at something.
A few weeks ago I started a free dance class for my friends. Now, these folks had never seen any of these dance steps before. Which means that for the first couple of weeks, they had to be willing to show up in a room with complete strangers, and be reasonably confused and lost for a full hour of their lives. But, because they were willing to be relatively not-good at something for a bit, they’re now all good at it—suggesting that it’s becoming more and more enjoyable the more they do it.

I find myself always going back to the example of breastfeeding. If someone had told me it was going to be no-fun in the beginning, I would have been so much more prepared for the struggle. Because I expected it to be easy, sticking with it felt so much harder. That’s why it’s always important for me to remember that quote, ‘Nothing is fun until I’m good at it,’ because it keeps me in the game. It reassures me that the beginning of almost all improvement is the most difficult part. If I can love myself, be patient with myself, and be willing to make micro-adjustments as I transition from not-so-great to good, I’m so much more likely to stick with the change that I so deeply longed for in the beginning. 

How about you, TeamConfessioners? Have there been changes you wanted to make in your life that you’re powering through? Or, maybe something you tried didn’t stick and you have to consider a different approach—like we talked about in the post, When Something’s Not Working – Maybe It’s Time to Fix the System, Not Me. I’d love to hear from you—so please drop a note in the comment section below this post on my website and I’ll be sure to get back to you.

Next week we’re going to be chatting about how my daughter led me to discover that toxic positivity might not be so toxic afterall. Please tune in for that, and have a lovely winter weekend and Valentine’s Day Team—thanks so much for listening~