Because we have a certain number of years of experience being a human, it’s tempting to feel like we should already be at our goal.

We want to jump ahead, even when doing something new. We can’t imagine being a beginner at this stage in life.

Being a beginner can be clumsy, awkward and embarrassing. The idea of being all those things again, as we were when we were growing up, is uncomfortable. We want to be at the finish line now.

Part of being a beginner is granting yourself permission to witness others as being ahead of you without thinking where they are in their journey means you are behind in yours.

By letting yourself be a beginner over and over again you free yourself from the pain of comparison. Instead, you can recognize someone being faster or further along than you are at the very same task and enjoy both their success and your progress.

Giving yourself permission to be a beginner sets you free to run your own race. Start small, take baby steps as you practice.

Working on tasks that are on the edge of your current abilities will help you stay motivated. Expecting to go from zero to hero overnight will demoralize you. Celebrate being a beginner, build momentum, and enjoy the journey.

Start by doing something as simple as trusting your internal guidance to guide you in what to wear tomorrow, what to order the next time you go out to eat or get coffee, or which route to drive to work in the morning. Then notice how you feel. Are you confident, nervous, relaxed, hesitant, excited? Just notice what it feels like when you let yourself be a beginner.

If the feeling is positive, build on it. If it does not feel so good, notice what you need the next time to make it more favorable and strive for it.

Don’t discount what your life looks like because it doesn’t look like the people you see on TV or in magazines or on social media. Allow yourself to find your pace.

When you give yourself permission to be a beginner no matter how long you have been doing something you will always feel successful.

There’s always going to be a next level where you are a beginner. This is true of all growth. Honor being a beginner in your relationships, your health and all areas of your life.

It will free you to grow without judgement.