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Confidence & Fun

For the Girl Trying Something New

First times are supposed to feel like this.

Read this before your first class, first tryout, or first day.

Quick Answer

Being new at something is not a weakness. It is the first step of every single thing you will ever be good at. Every expert you admire started exactly where you are right now.

Everyone you admire was new once

Think about the best dancer at your studio, the best player on any team, or your favorite creator. Every single one of them had a day one. They walked into a room where everyone else seemed to know what they were doing, and they felt exactly what you are feeling.

The only difference between them and the people who quit is that they came back for day two.

What "new" actually feels like

New feels awkward. Your body does not listen the first time. You forget the steps, the rules, the words. You look around and everyone else seems faster.

Here is the secret: that feeling is not a sign you are bad at it. That feeling is what learning feels like. It is supposed to be there. It fades a little bit every time you show up.

Three things to tell yourself

One: I am allowed to be a beginner. Two: I am not behind, I just started. Three: The girl who tries is already braver than the girl who watches.

Say them before you walk in. Say them again after, especially if it was hard.

Give it ten tries

Do not decide how you feel about something new after one try. First tries are full of nerves and fumbles and they are not a fair test. Give it ten real tries before you decide.

By try ten, one of two things happens. Either you have started to love it, or you know for sure it is not your thing. Both answers are wins, because both answers came from actually trying.

Keep exploring