The Blank Page

The blank page. The empty canvas. The fresh start.

Analogies we turn to when we’re looking to begin again.

Sometimes, they can be daunting. You know how it is when you have to write an assignment, and you’re not sure where to begin. You just sit there staring, waiting for inspiration. Waiting for something to come out of nowhere and tell you what to write.

The fresh start feels good at first until you start thinking about all the options and ways you can go with it. It locks you up. You freeze. Nothing gets done.

With new beginnings, a few things happen.

• There’s a fear of perfectionism. We don’t start because we want it to be perfect before we get started. We’re afraid of how we’ll be judged by a performance. To put a lot of time into something and not be judged fairly hurts. Why put all that time in only to fear the outcomes?

• It’s overwhelming. There are just too many ways to go. Why start when you don’t know what the next step will be?

• It feels threatening. In the fight-or-flight response, our brains are wired to respond to any threat by running. Why do something that we don’t know how it’s going to turn out?

All very real fears.

How do you overcome it?

• Embrace mistakes. The sooner you realize there will be mistakes, the sooner you can get started.

• Learn from the mistakes. It won’t be perfect, we’ve established that. Also, don’t let the same mistakes keep happening. Learn, adjust, keep moving.

• Start anyway. Sit down and write. Do something that you think will get you where you want to go. You don’t need to see the entire path through the jungle; you just have to be able to see your next step. If you can, take it.

• Avoid distractions. Put your phone aside. Turn the TV off. Sit with your thoughts. Lean into the uncomfortable nature of starting something new.

These are a few ways I’ve seen work for high performers looking to overcome the paralysis of a fresh start.

What’s something that’s worked for you?