The Joy of Not Being Good Yet

Most of us enjoy being good at what we do.

There's a certain confidence that comes from experience. We know what to expect. We know how to solve problems. We know how to succeed.

But there's something we lose when we only do the things we're already good at.

We stop experiencing the excitement of learning.

Lately, I've been reminded of that through voice lessons, painting, and preparing for Broadway theater camp.

None of those activities come naturally to me.

There are moments when I hit the wrong note.

Moments when a painting doesn't turn out the way I imagined.

Moments when I realize just how much I still have to learn.

Years ago, I might have seen those moments as evidence that I wasn't good enough.

Today, I see them differently.

They're evidence that I'm growing.

I've started to appreciate the phrase "not yet."

I'm not the singer I hope to become.

Not yet.

I'm not as confident with a paintbrush as I'd like to be.

Not yet.

I haven't experienced everything Broadway camp has to teach me.

Not yet.

Those two words have become a reminder that learning is still in progress.

Too often, we judge ourselves by where we are instead of celebrating the fact that we're moving forward.

Every expert was once someone who wasn't very good.

The only difference is they kept showing up.

I'm discovering that there is real joy in allowing yourself to be unfinished.

After all, if we're still learning, we're still becoming.

And that's something worth celebrating.