Bíonn gach tosú lag
Translation: Every beginning is weak
In the spirit of my own fresh start, I thought I’d share a phrase that has brought me such comfort as I begin another new journey. It’s not meant to be deflating or cynical unless interpreted as such but actually quite the opposite. It’s a reminder that once we accept mediocrity at the beginning of every venture, it removes the weight of expectation to be an expert or experience immediate success and allows us room to fail and learn.
“If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again” is a phrase that sadly seems to have gone out of fashion. Avoiding the humbling experience of being a beginner is something so many of us do.
We are scared to start something new, scared to fail because the story we tell ourselves about what this means about who we are is unkind: being bad at something must mean we lack talent, importance, significance or simply that we are not good enough.
Very often we expect that the risk of trying something new will be met with an immediate reward of success given the courage it took to try in the first place. Unfortunately, it is the act of continuous perseverance, consistent determination and trust in the face of early failure that determines the outcome.
Dedication to trust in slow progression rather than overnight achievement requires patience and a willingness to sit in the discomfort of mediocrity for a while.
The reality is if we want to run the marathon, start the business, grow the following or even just cultivate the calming mindset, we won’t find rewards in the early stages, but this is not a sign to give up entirely and run back into the comforting arms of familiarity.
It’s an opportunity to find the courage to start, and start again.
When you next feel deflated and discouraged by a lack of success, when you have a graveyard of failures on the path behind you and you’re too ashamed or intimidated by the thought of being a beginner, remember that you have to be a novice before you become a pro.
Every beginning is weak, but it is not where you are that determines where you go but the attitude you decide to adopt.
I hope it brings you a sense of peace to know that there is no shame in starting over and over again, no matter how many times you’ve tried, how many unsuccessful attempts or how scary the thought of failing is.