The Myth of Being “Ready” for Change
How many times have you said, “I’m just not ready yet.” Or heard them from someone else? I’d hazard a guess it’s more times than you can count.
And here’s what I’ve discovered after years of coaching people through change and navigating my own fair share of life transitions: we’re rarely ever truly “ready” for the things that matter most.
When I decided to sell my home, get rid of half my possessions, and move to the other side of the world to Perth, Australia, was I ready? Absolutely not.
When I chose to address my health and fitness after menopause, feeling the uncomfortable weight of “am I walking the talk?” as a health and wellbeing coach, was I ready? Not even close.
Yet here’s the thing – I did it anyway. Because I had something more powerful than readiness: I had willingness.
The Comfortable Lie We Tell Ourselves
“When I have more time…” “When I’m more organised…” “When I feel more confident…” “When the kids are older…” “When work calms down…” “When I have more money…”
Sound familiar?
We’ve become brilliant at creating these perfect conditions in our minds – this mythical place where all the stars align and change becomes effortless. But here’s what I’ve learned: that place doesn’t exist.
Life doesn’t pause and create perfect conditions for us to step into our growth. Life is messy, unpredictable, and constantly moving. If we wait for the “right time,” we’ll be waiting forever.
What Does “Being Ready” Actually Look Like?
Let me ask you this: what would being in the right place to start look like for you?
Perhaps you imagine:
- Having all the answers before you begin
- Feeling completely confident about the outcome
- Having no other obligations or stressors
- Possessing all the skills you think you’ll need
- Having everyone around you supportive and encouraging
If this is your picture of readiness, I have some news for you – you’ll never be ready.
And that’s perfectly fine.
The Power of Willingness Over Readiness
Here’s what I’ve discovered, both in my own life and through working with countless clients: willingness is far more powerful than readiness.
Readiness suggests we need to have it all figured out. Willingness simply asks: Are you open to the possibility?
Readiness demands certainty. Willingness embraces the unknown.
Readiness waits for permission. Willingness gives itself permission.
When I work with clients who are stuck in the “not ready” loop, I gently challenge them with this question: “What if you never feel ready? What if willingness is enough?”
Starting Before You’re Ready
The magic happens when we start before we’re ready. Why? Because it’s through the doing that we discover what we’re capable of.
You don’t learn to swim by studying swimming techniques on dry land. You learn by getting in the water, probably splashing about a bit, maybe swallowing some water, and gradually finding your rhythm.
Change works the same way. We figure it out as we go.
When you start before you’re ready:
- You build confidence through action, not through thinking
- You discover resources within yourself that you didn’t know existed
- You realise that most of your fears were bigger in your imagination than in reality
- You create momentum that carries you forward
- You prove to yourself that you’re more capable than you believed
The Questions That Matter
Instead of asking “Am I ready?” try asking:
- Am I willing to take the first step?
- What’s the smallest action I could take today?
- What would I attempt if I knew I couldn’t fail?
- What’s the cost of staying where I am?
- What story will I tell myself in five years if I don’t start now?
My Own “Not Ready” Moments
When I decided to move to Australia, I wasn’t ready. I didn’t have all the logistics figured out. I didn’t know exactly how I’d rebuild my life on the other side of the world. But I was willing.
When I decided to address my health and fitness, I wasn’t ready to transform my entire lifestyle overnight. I didn’t have the perfect plan or the ideal schedule. But I was willing to take one small step.
And here’s what happened: through the process of doing, I started realising I was moving forward. Each small action built on the next. Each tiny success gave me the confidence to take the next step.
The Ripple Effect of Starting
There’s something beautiful that happens when we start before we’re ready – we inspire others to do the same.
When your children see you taking on challenges despite feeling uncertain, you’re teaching them that courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s action in the presence of fear.
When your friends witness you making changes without having it all figured out, you give them permission to start their own messy, imperfect journeys.
When you model that willingness is enough, you become living proof that we don’t need to wait for perfect conditions to create change.
So, Are You Ever Really Ready?
My answer? Probably not. And that’s the point.
If we waited until we felt completely ready, most of the beautiful, meaningful changes in our lives would never happen. The moves we make, the relationships we start, the careers we change, the dreams we pursue – they all require us to step into uncertainty.
The question isn’t whether you’re ready. The question is: are you willing?
Are you willing to start before you have all the answers? Are you willing to be imperfect as you learn? Are you willing to trust that you’ll figure it out as you go?
Because if you are, that willingness is enough to begin.
And beginning, messy and uncertain as it may be, is where all change starts.
What are you willing to start today, even if you’re not ready?
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