I never thought I could run a marathon until I stood near the finish line of the NYC Marathon, watching people who looked just like me cross that ultimate line. I thought, “If they can do it, so can I.” But I quickly realized that even though these people looked like me, they weren’t me. We were on different levels. They were finishers; I was a beginner. So, I trained for the marathon just as any beginner does. I read books on training for your first marathon, ran alongside someone who had already completed one, and set a goal – to finish, not to finish within a certain time, just to finish, which I did.
Years later, I decided to participate in another marathon, and I trained again. But this time, I wasn’t a beginner. I had gained a certain level of competency and the confidence that I could finish. So, this time, I trained to complete the marathon within a specific time frame. And guess what? I actually ran it faster than I had expected.
Fast forward a few years, and I decided to tackle another marathon, one renowned for its challenging route. This time, I reverted to a beginner’s mindset. I had to learn how to navigate hills effectively and traverse cobblestones without tripping. As a beginner tackling this type of terrain, my goal was to finish. However, my past experiences gave me the confidence that I could do it.
Do you notice the pattern here? Because I accepted that I was a beginner, I never felt like I wasn’t good enough. I just had to become competent, and that took learning and time. Competence then led to confidence, and this confidence further enhanced my competence in marathon running. I never compared myself to others’ times. If I had done so, I might have given up, thinking, “Oh, look, Peggy did it in 3 hours, and it took me 4. I’ll never be any good at this.” Do you see what I mean?
The same applies to writing. You might have read a book and thought, “I could write that.” Then, you started writing your novel but never finished. Why? Because all along, you were comparing your writing to that of other authors. “This sentence isn’t good. This beginning is awful.” You’re the runner who constantly compares themselves to others’ times. Stop. Change your mindset. Think like a beginner and finish.