Takeaways:

• I want to encourage you to reframe how it can feel when you’re taking those initial steps and it doesn’t feel how you expected it to feel.

• What if you let yourself be a beginner? It’s normal to not be good at something that you’re just starting to try at. You get better by practicing, not by thinking about it.

• Most people discouraging you from doing the thing you want to do are usually projecting onto you the reasons they’ve held themselves back.

• You might be inspiring the same person who is questioning or criticizing you.

• We can’t count on the reactions of other people to convince us to keep pursuing our dreams. Remember you’re pursuing your dream. Are you really seeking the validation of others, or are you expressing something that’s on your heart.

• Focus on what you can control instead of the results that depend on other people.

• If negative feedback makes you want to give up, you might just need to set aside the feedback for a while until you’ve had some time to practice and gain confidence.

• Remember why you’re doing the thing that lights you up. Focus on what you can control. Seek out, acknowledge, and document the positive. Think about and celebrate how much progress you’ve made.

• What you think of yourself is more important than what anyone else thinks about you.