Start Before You’re Ready

Fear Keeps Us Stuck — Start Before You’re Ready is the Antidote

There’s something inside you that wants to get out. It’s been tugging at your heart, whispering in your ear, and sometimes even shouting for your attention. It wants to be born. This is your gift to share with the world—your spark, your "je ne sais quoi." Your, “I don’t know what”. It can’t be easily named but it can be felt. It’s a niggle in the belly, a tingle in your toes. It’s your zone of genius, as Gay Hendricks describes in The Big Leap. You’re so good at it that you might not even recognize it as something special. But the world needs it.

The process of bringing your gift into the world in all its various forms isn’t without challenges. Two powerful foes often stand in the way. One is societal pressure and norms. The other is fear. Both come from the primitive part of our brain that equates both rejection and change as potentially life-threatening. 

The Box Society Puts You In

Society bombards us with messages about who we should be and how we should show up. It tells us to stay in the box: follow the rules, fit the mold, don’t make waves. For highly sensitive people (HSPs), these pressures can feel overwhelming, like you’re lugging around a mismatched suitcase—heavy and awkward, stuffed with things that were never yours to begin with.

Trying to conform to these standards often leads to exhaustion and burnout. That box wasn’t made for your unique gifts. It can’t contain your special sauce. Yet, stepping out feels risky, doesn’t it? That’s because your fear-driven primitive brain kicks in to keep you safe.

Why Fear Keeps Us Stuck

Your brain’s job is to protect you, and it’s very good at it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t differentiate between real, life-threatening danger and the discomfort of trying something new. Any change—even a positive one—can set off alarm bells, leaving you frozen in place.

This is where nervous system regulation comes in. To take bold action, your prefrontal cortex (the rational, decision-making part of your brain) must reassure your primitive brain that you’re safe. Deep breaths, movement, time in nature, laughter, and dancing to some 70s funk are all powerful tools to calm your nervous system and create the conditions for growth.

The Secret Move: Start Before You’re Ready

Yogi Bhajan, a spiritual teacher, said it best: “When the time is on you, start, and the pressure will be off.” This wisdom reminds us that waiting for the perfect moment is an illusion. The truth is, clarity and confidence come through action, not before it.

Starting before you’re ready doesn’t mean diving in recklessly. It means taking the first imperfect step with intention. It means building the plane as you fly. It’s about trusting that the next step will appear once you’ve taken the first, like when Indiana Jones stepped out onto an invisible bridge.

How to Start When Fear Is Loud

Your entire system may shout "No!" the moment you step outside your comfort zone. That’s normal. The key is learning to invite in an opposing message—a voice of calm, courage, and curiosity. Here’s how:

1. Regulate Your Nervous System: Use tools like deep breathing, grounding exercises, or spending time in nature to create a sense of safety in your body.
2. Focus on Micro-Steps: Break the big, overwhelming goal into tiny, manageable actions. Each small step builds momentum.
3. Reframe Failure: View missteps as feedback, not proof of inadequacy. Every action teaches you something valuable about your path.
4. Create Supportive Rituals: Whether it’s journaling, meditating, or dancing to a fun song, anchor yourself in routines that boost your energy and confidence.

Why Starting Brings Clarity

One of the biggest benefits of starting before you’re ready is the feedback you receive. Your gift can’t breathe and grow until it’s interacting with the world. You’ll never know how your idea resonates until you put it out there. And the process of doing so will refine your vision, sharpen your skills, and connect you with those who need what only you can offer.

This can feel vulnerable, but it’s also a path to empowerment. When you let go of the need for perfection and focus on serving others, your energy shifts. The fear softens, and the joy of creation takes over.

What If You’re Not Ready?

If you’re nodding along but still hesitating, let me reassure you: readiness isn’t a prerequisite. It’s a byproduct of action. What’s one step you can take to move forward with your offer, whatever that is?

If that offer is your first online course, I’ve created something just for you.

It's a program designed specifically for highly sensitive women like you who want to build their first online course. It’s a nervous-system-friendly approach based on decades of experience creating and launching content. You’ll receive a clear map, a checklist, and the guidance to share your unique gift with the world—without the bro-marketing, hustle culture or overwhelm.

It’s new, I’m excited about it and my nervous system is shooting fear signals out all over my body. But, I’m breathing deeply and I’ve just cued up some of the best funk music in the world - The Meters. If you don’t know this band yet, you’re welcome. ;-) 

This is your moment. The world needs what only you can bring. Don’t wait for permission, perfection, or the mythical feeling of readiness. Start before you’re ready, and watch the path unfold beneath your feet.

Find out more about Build Your First Online Course. 

Jam out to The Meters.