by Pakhi Rajesh Kumar Dixit

You’re standing at the edge of something new—heart pounding, palms sweating, the whole package. Maybe it’s starting a new job, launching a business, or even taking your first stab at yoga (spoiler alert: Downward Dog isn’t as “restorative” as they make it sound). Whatever the venture, the doubt creeps in: What if I’m terrible? What if people laugh? What if I fail so spectacularly I become a meme?                                          

Here’s a newsflash: Every expert you admire, every CEO you idolize, every artist whose work makes you swoon—they all began somewhere, and chances are, their beginnings weren’t Instagram-perfect. Being a beginner isn’t a weakness. In fact, it’s where all the good stuff happens—growth, resilience, and yes, even hilarity.

Remember: No One Was Born Knowing Stuff

Think of babies. (Stay with me here.) They come into this world with zero skills. Can’t talk, can’t walk, can’t even hold their heads up. And yet, they don’t sit there stewing in existential angst over their inability to master the language or use a spoon. They just keep going, fail spectacularly, and eventually, they figure it out.

Why do we, as adults, expect ourselves to skip that phase? You’re not Beyoncé, and even Beyoncé didn’t start as Beyoncé. She was a kid in Houston learning dance routines in her mom’s salon. Give yourself the grace to be bad at something before you’re good. Take a moment to applaud yourself—you’re stepping into unknown territory. That alone is a gutsy move. Think of it like jumping into a freezing pool; it’s shocking at first, but eventually, it feels exhilarating.

Failure Is Hilarious (When You Let It Be)

Picture this: You’ve decided to learn how to roller skate. You’re 15 minutes in, wobbling like a baby giraffe, and boom—you faceplant in front of a crowd of kids who are now calling you “Crash Queen.” Embarrassing? Sure. But also hilarious. Turning failures into funny anecdotes transforms missteps into memories worth keeping. 

Embracing failure as a comedy goldmine can take the sting out of it. Did you burn your first attempt at sourdough so badly it could double as a doorstop? Congrats—you’re one step closer to becoming the baker who brags about their “humble beginnings.” Did your first pitch at work end with a colleague kindly explaining the meaning of “ROI”? Good—you’ve just learned something they don’t teach in textbooks.

Action Over Perfection

Perfectionism is the villain of every story, and it’s a sneaky one. It whispers in your ear: Don’t even try unless you’re sure you’ll be amazing. But here’s the truth: You can’t think your way into being good at something. You have to do it—clumsily, awkwardly, imperfectly. Mastery doesn’t come from planning—it comes from doing.

Take Amelia, a 42-year-old lawyer who decided to take up painting. Her first canvas? A mess of colors that vaguely resembled a crime scene. But she kept at it, one awkward brushstroke at a time. Five years later, her paintings hang in local galleries. Amelia’s advice? “Start ugly. Ugly is honest.” 

The real secret? Perfection isn’t the goal—progress is.

Comparison Is a Confidence Killer

Raise your hand if you’ve ever scrolled through social media and thought, Why does everyone else seem to have their life together while I’m over here Googling how to boil an egg? Yeah, same.

Your friend might be learning five languages while you’re figuring out how to toast bread evenly. That doesn’t make your efforts less valuable. Success is personal, and comparison is the quickest way to kill your enthusiasm.

Also, here’s the thing: Social media is a highlight reel. No one posts their bloopers. You’re comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else’s polished trailer, and that’s not a fair fight. Stop torturing yourself.

Instead, try this: Celebrate their wins while staying focused on your own path. Run your own race, and don’t let someone else’s success make you forget that you’re just starting out.

Celebrate Small Wins

When you’re a beginner, even the tiniest progress is worth celebrating. Did you write one coherent paragraph for the novel you’ve been dreaming of? Applause! Managed to knit a scarf that doesn’t look like a piece of abstract art? Gold star! Nailed the pronunciation of a French phrase without sounding like you’re coughing? Celebrate it.

The small victories are proof that you’re moving forward, even if it feels slow. Write them down, share them with a friend, or treat yourself to something fun. (Ice cream is always a good choice, in case you’re wondering.) Track small wins, whether it’s mastering a chord on the guitar or remembering to save your work before closing your laptop.

Achievement isn’t reserved for massive breakthroughs. It’s in the quiet victories—the kind that build momentum and keep you going when the going gets tough.

Ask for Help, and Don’t Be Ashamed

Starting alone can feel isolating, but you don’t have to do it solo. We live in a world that glorifies the “self-made” myth, but nobody does it alone! Asking for help isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. Whether it’s hiring a coach, watching a YouTube tutorial, or texting that one friend who knows everything about spreadsheets, leaning on others can accelerate your progress. 

Liz, a budding entrepreneur who couldn’t make heads or tails of accounting joined a local business group, confessed her ignorance, and got mentorship from someone who turned her spreadsheets into works of art. Now, she mentors other women. “I stopped pretending I had it all figured out,” Liz says. “Turns out, admitting you’re clueless is a superpower.”

Reframe the Narrative

Instead of seeing “beginner” as a label of inadequacy, think of it as a badge of honor. You’re not “bad” at something; you’re brave enough to try something new. You’re stretching yourself, daring to grow, and giving yourself permission to learn.

A writer hesitates to send their first pitch, worried it’s not good enough. But instead of giving in to doubt, they reframe the story they are telling themselves. “This isn’t failure,” they think. “This is me taking a step forward.”

Imagine telling your future self, “I wanted to learn this, but I was too afraid of looking dumb, so I didn’t.” Now imagine telling them, “I dove in headfirst, made a fool of myself a few times, and now I’m amazing at this.” Which story would you rather tell?

The Takeaway

Starting from scratch can feel daunting, but it’s also where transformation begins. It’s in the tripping, the fumbling, and the laughing at yourself that real growth happens. 

Next time you’re about to start something new, embrace the discomfort, take a deep breath, and remind yourself: Confidence doesn’t arrive fully formed—it grows every time you show up and try. So go ahead—be a beginner. The only way forward is through. You’ve got this. Now go, break a leg!