What Would It Mean to Move Forward Even If the Conditions Aren’t Perfect?

Sourdough Starter and Bread

We all have things we want to do.

A project. A passion. A change we’ve been meaning to make.

But somehow, we don’t start. Or we start just a little, and then stall out.

We wait for the right time. The right setup. The right mindset.

And yet… weeks — months — even years — go by.

The truth?

A goal without action is just a dream.

And an idea without direction? That turns into fantasy.

Why Do We Procrastinate?

Most of us don’t avoid things because we’re lazy.

We avoid them because something is in the way.

And often, we don’t even realize what that “something” is.

Some common reasons we procrastinate:

• Waiting for the perfect time or setup

• Fear of failure or not doing it “right”

• Decision fatigue or mental overload

• Low energy or burnout

• Getting stuck in planning instead of doing

• Fear of what others will think (so the focus shifts away from your desire to do)

• Feeling like the task is too big or unattainable — so why even start?

And some less obvious ones:

• Wanting it to be meaningful and fearing it won’t be

• Comparing yourself to others and freezing up

• Tying the task to your identity or worth (“If I fail at this, what does that say about me?”)

• Subconscious self-protection — “If I never try, I can’t be disappointed.”

  
  

Everyone experiences this at one point or another, whether we realize it or not. And sometimes, it happens more than we’d like to admit.

Broken Bread

Recently, I decided I wanted to get into a new hobby — something simple and grounding.I wanted to bake bread. Not just for fun, but because it felt like a meaningful way to slow down, be present, and maybe even connect with others.

I imagined giving some to neighbors, sharing it with family, feeling that warmth and care in a small, handmade thing.

I thought about it a lot. I even bought the ingredients.

But I never actually started.

It sat on the counter.

I didn’t have the cute jar I wanted. I kept saying I’d film a video when I finally did it. And because those "little things" weren’t in place, I just… kept putting it off.

Every weekend, I told myself: “Next time.”

The desire was there. The motivation was there. But the consistency? The follow-through? The permission to do it imperfectly? That was missing.

Another 2 months passed. Then one day, just like the weeks before, I woke up and wanted bread. And once again, the starter wasn’t ready. I had waited on myself.

So I grabbed a beat-up container, mixed the starter in — it literally took me less than three minutes — and called it a win.

Finally, doing it was so easy that I couldn't believe it took me so long to get started.

And honestly? I was proud of it.

What If You Just Started?

If we’re always waiting for the conditions to be perfect, we could wait forever.

But what if starting before you’re ready is actually the real way forward?

Progress isn’t always big or bold. Sometimes it looks like:

• Writing the first messy paragraph of your book

• Googling that class you’ve been curious about

• Asking one question

• Saying yes, even if your voice shakes

• Mixing the dough — even if it’s not in the cute jar

You can be patient and still take action. Baby steps are steps.

I’m still learning this. Still practicing. But the biggest shift I’ve made is asking:

What’s one imperfect step I can take today?

Even if it’s just five minutes, your future self will thank you. And your past self?

The one who kept dreaming?

They’ll be proud you finally began.