Before trying to do something, I sometimes feel like I’m not ready yet. Thoughts like “I haven’t learned or understood X well enough” or “How can I attempt Y yet?” often hold me back. At times, these concerns might be valid, but most of the time, they’re just mental blocks. In reality, the definition of “ready” in my mind is something so over-the-top that it can never truly be attained—like a mirage that keeps moving further away the closer I get.
I need to dive in and learn along the way. I’ve seen this play out in my own life—things I once thought were difficult turned out to be much easier than I had imagined. Reading academic papers, reading books, and writing are just a few examples.
Another interesting one is presenting in front of a group of people (not at a public-speaking level, just regular work or school presentations). Since my school days, I used to be nervous about this—even reading a paragraph aloud in class felt like a big deal. I always wanted to avoid it. But one day, at my first job, I had to present something to the engineering team. When I started, my heart was racing, but as I got into it, I actually enjoyed it.
I used to think I wasn’t cut out for these things, but I was wrong. Turns out, you can discover things you actually enjoy doing—if you just give them a shot. I’m also grateful for the people who have encouraged me along the way.
One of the biggest realizations I’ve had as an adult is that it’s easy to get comfortable and not want to leave that comfort zone. As an adult, you have a lot more personal choice, which is great, but it also makes it easy to become lazy and not push yourself to explore new things. That’s why it’s important to put yourself in situations that challenge you and push you beyond what feels comfortable.
One thing that has helped me a lot is staying curious and being comfortable asking “stupid” questions—something I used to struggle with before.