Sharing Before You're Ready

You know that feeling when you're about to share something, a blog, a post, a small project, and your brain whispers:

“Maybe give it one more edit.”

That’s been me. For years, actually.

I sat on my first few blog posts for longer than I care to admit. They were written, re-written, tweaked, polished, but never shared. I kept convincing myself they could be just that bit better. And honestly, they probably could have been. But if I've learnt anything over the past year, it's that "better" never really ends.

The Myth of Ready

In western society, we tend to treat perfection as an endpoint, a moment where something is finally flawless. But the Japanese idea of perfection has always resonated more with me:

“Perfection is simply doing something better than the last time.”

That clicked for me. It made me realise that waiting to be ready is really just waiting for a version of yourself that doesn't exist yet. The only way to become that version is to start, and then keep going.

I touched on this idea before in Perfection Is Unattainable, but this time, it's not just about accepting imperfection, it's about acting through it.

Lessons from Cold Water

During October, I took on a daily dipping challenge for charity. Every day, rain, wind, dark mornings, I'd force myself into cold water. Some days I didn't feel ready at all. There were nights I'd climb into bed, remember I hadn't done the dip yet, and drag myself back out just to keep the streak alive.

But here's the thing: the discomfort never really went away, I just got better at facing it.

And it's the same with sharing. You don't suddenly wake up one day ready to post your ideas, publish your work, or push your project live. You do it before you're ready, and that's how you grow.

The Ripple Effect

Since I've started sharing more consistently, imperfections and all, I've noticed the shift. Less stress, less worry, less overthinking. More engagement, more appreciation, more satisfaction from simply getting it done.

It's funny, the posts I almost didn't share have often been the ones that resonated the most. Maybe because people can feel the honesty in them. The rawness connects more than polish ever will.

It reminds me of something I wrote in The Word Can't Doesn't Exist, that sometimes action itself creates the confidence we think we need to begin.

Progress Over Perfection

So now, instead of chasing “perfect,” I try to chase “done better than last time.”
It’s a simple mindset shift, but it’s changed how I create, how I work, and how I live.

Because ready isn't a real state, it's a mirage that keeps you from moving forward.
Sharing before you’re ready isn’t about recklessness. It’s about trusting that doing teaches more than waiting ever could.

Next time you hesitate to share something, ask yourself: