16 Reasons to Try Something Even if You’re Not “Good Enough”
It's okay if the rocks fall. Photo by Quinn Corte, 2025.
There’s something you want to do, but you’re scared you’ll fail.
Instead of waiting for the clouds to part, for mastery, for polish, for your idealized future self, for perfection or approval, for divine timing, or for that fictional moment when you’ll feel “ready,” here are 16 reasons you should put yourself out there right now in a very mediocre way:
Because if you keep waiting, you may never do it (or might miss your chance).
Because this is something that matters to you.
Because it might make you laugh—or learn something.
Because it could inspire someone else to try something they aren’t perfect at.
Because getting comfortable with your mediocrity is a skill you have to practice.
Because the pain of not trying is eating you up inside, and the regret will be there anyway.
Because you’re envious of everyone else who’s doing it (and not even that good at it!).
Because being performative and unrealistic is a disservice to everyone, and being human is a service to humanity.
Because you won’t get through your way-too-busy life unless you know how to phone it in sometimes.
Because you have very skewed sense of expectations, and your half-assed attempt is actually very impressive.
Because: what if it works?
Because no one else is actually paying attention.
Because this time you might be terrible at it, but next time you’ll be a little better.
Because trying will make you more easily satisfiable, more relaxed, and way more fun to be around.
Because shitty people in power benefit when you police yourself and stay small.
Because you would want your daughter to try, even if she wasn’t good at it.