Live at the edge of your capabilities

Not feeling capable is really common.

So many people have a fear of failure because they feel like they just aren’t capable or experienced enough. If I am being honest, I have really never felt or been too capable of most of the things I have done in my life. I feel like I jump into things and commit before I have any experience or a track record of success.

I just do it — because I want to or an opportunity presents itself to me. I have learned to stop asking myself, “Can I actually do this? Am I capable?”

The answer is almost always NO.

If I dwelled on my lack of expertise, experience, or ability I would never try anything.

I would avoid almost all challenges and I would not be where I am today. This morning as I was facing, yet again, another look into the near future and realizing I am again at the edge of my capabilities, I was wondering if it will ever end.

Will I ever get to the place where I am so experienced, capable, wise, skilled, and savvy to be fully confident in all things? Will I ever feel 100% prepared?

After all of these experiences I have had, how come I still face the future with that familiar nagging feeling: Oh God, I’m in over my head. I don't know what to do or how I will do it.

I remember, when we first decided to take The Mastery Program online after teaching in person for five years, we felt way in over our heads. We had little experience in online education and had no infrastructure or web platform to support such an endeavor.

I remember thinking, Most people prepare for this for years until everything is organized and all systems are built! I had no idea how to create a system or know what needed to be created without trying it first. I had to see it begin, see it live, and take form in order to build.

This is what I call starting before you are ready.

Stepping into a new direction has always felt a little risky and I always feel unprepared. That is how it should be! If you feel totally prepared and everything is in place, you have moved too slowly and have missed the window for your new endeavor.

Life moves fast.

Opportunities come quickly and expect our swift response.

Not being ready keeps us humble and reliant on a power outside of (and higher than) ourselves.

I am utterly convinced that the only way to grow is by being willing to plunge into endeavors that are beyond our current abilities. Being stretched is a lifestyle.

We have to become comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Just beyond our capabilities is where we find supernatural intelligence, strength, vision, answers, assurance, and guidance. This is where we find our teacher.

If you have fear or you are telling yourself you can’t do it because it’s beyond you… that is exactly what you need to do! Just do it anyway!