Why Not? Let’s Find Out.

We spend so much of our lives trying to know the outcome before we ever take the first step. We ask ourselves questions like, “What if I fail?” “What if I’m not good enough?” “What if I try and it doesn’t work?” We want certainty before action, proof before effort, and confidence before risk. But the truth is, most meaningful things in life begin without any guarantee at all.

Sometimes the best answer to all of those questions is simply: Why not? Let’s find out.

There is freedom in that mindset because it removes the pressure of needing to know exactly what will happen. You don’t have to convince yourself that you are definitely going to succeed. You don’t have to force yourself to believe that you are completely ready. You can simply admit, “I don’t know,” and still be willing to try.

Experience can make this harder. The more we’ve failed, struggled, hurt, or been disappointed, the more our minds try to protect us. We remember what happened before and begin predicting that the same thing will happen again. We stop approaching new opportunities with curiosity and instead approach them carrying every old experience with us.

But this attempt is not the last attempt. You are not exactly the same person you were before. You have learned, changed, grown, and gained experience. The circumstances are different too. So why decide the ending before you’ve even started?

“Let’s find out” brings curiosity back into the process.

Instead of asking, “What does this result say about me?” we can ask, “What can I learn from this?” Instead of asking, “Am I good enough?” we can ask, “How far can I take this?”

That shift also changes the meaning of failure. If every attempt is supposed to prove our worth, then failure becomes a verdict. But if the goal is to find out, then every attempt becomes information. Maybe you succeed and discover that you were capable of more than you realized. Maybe you fall short and learn what needs to change. Either way, you walk away knowing something you could never have learned by standing on the sidelines.

This mindset is not about being reckless or ignoring real risks. It is about recognizing when thinking has turned into avoidance. There comes a point when preparation is complete and the only thing left to do is step forward.

You don’t need to have your entire future figured out. You don’t need complete confidence. You don’t even need to be fearless.

You just need enough curiosity to give yourself a chance.

Maybe the thing you’re chasing works out. Maybe it doesn’t. Maybe you surprise yourself.

There is only one way to know.

Why not? Let’s find out.

I want to talk to the person who’s frustrated right now because they’re coming back from an injury, an illness, or just a season where life forced them to slow down.

I know how tempting it is to want everything back immediately. You wake up feeling a little better and your first thought is, “Maybe I can jump right back into where I left off.” Trust me, I understand that feeling. I’ve had it more times than I can count.

But here’s something I hope you’ll remember.

You don’t have to rush your comeback.

Somewhere along the way we’ve convinced ourselves that taking it easy is weakness. That if we aren’t pushing as hard as we can, we’re falling behind everyone else. But healing doesn’t work that way. Your body isn’t asking you to prove how tough you are. It’s asking for a little patience.

One thing I’ve learned through running is that fitness isn’t nearly as fragile as we think it is. A few days off or even a couple of weeks don’t erase months or years of hard work. The same is true for so many passions in life. Your abilities don’t disappear overnight. They’re still there. Sometimes they just need a little time to wake back up.

The hardest part isn’t usually physical. It’s mental.

We start questioning ourselves. We wonder if we’ll ever feel the same again. We compare ourselves to where we were before everything happened. That’s when frustration starts taking over.

Instead, I want you to compare yourself to yesterday.

Can you take one more comfortable step than you did before? Can you move with a little more confidence? Can you finish today feeling like you still have something left in the tank?

If the answer is yes, then you’re making progress.

Healing isn’t supposed to be dramatic. Most of the time it’s quiet. It’s made up of ordinary days that don’t seem very exciting until one day you look back and realize how far you’ve come.

I’ve also learned that trust takes time to rebuild. After you’ve been injured or sick, it’s normal to wonder if your body is going to let you down again. But trust doesn’t come from one big workout or one perfect day. It comes from hundreds of small moments where you show up, listen to your body, and let confidence grow naturally.

So if today is an easy day, let it be easy.

If today is a walking day instead of a running day, that’s okay too.

You’re not failing.

You’re not losing everything you’ve worked so hard to build.

You’re simply giving your body the opportunity to become strong again.

Remember, this isn’t just about getting back. It’s about staying back.

Be patient with yourself. Your comeback doesn’t need to be fast.

It just needs to last.

Episode Summary – “Who Told You That You Needed Permission?”

In this episode of Still Becoming, I explore a question that has been quietly shaping so many of our lives: Who told us we needed permission to believe in ourselves? Somewhere along the way, many of us learned that confidence wasn’t something we could simply have. Instead, we began believing it had to be earned through accomplishments, perfection, or the approval of others. We wait until we’ve proven enough before allowing ourselves to dream bigger, speak confidently, or believe we’re capable of something extraordinary.

I share how this has shown up in my own marathon journey. As I continue training toward ambitious goals, there are moments when I genuinely believe I can achieve something I’ve never done before. But almost immediately, another voice appears telling me not to get ahead of myself, not to be arrogant, and not to believe that someone like me deserves a dream that big. I’ve realized those thoughts aren’t based on my physical ability—they’re based on a story I’ve carried for years.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that confidence and arrogance are not the same thing. Arrogance says you’re better than everyone else. Confidence simply says you believe you’re capable of becoming the person you’re working so hard to be. Too often, we shrink ourselves because we’re afraid of how others might perceive our ambition. We apologize for our dreams before we’ve even given ourselves a chance to pursue them.

The truth is that many of us aren’t actually waiting for permission from other people anymore—we’re waiting for permission from ourselves. We tell ourselves we’ll finally believe once we lose weight, gain experience, run faster, make more money, or reach some imaginary milestone. But every time we reach one goal, our minds simply move the finish line again. The confidence we were hoping would arrive never does because certainty was never the missing piece.

Running has reminded me that confidence cannot depend on the last workout, the last race, or someone else’s opinion. Some days I feel unstoppable, and other days doubt tries to convince me I don’t belong. The circumstances haven’t changed—only the story I’m telling myself has. Real confidence isn’t something we feel every day. It’s a decision we continue making, even when fear is loud.

I close the episode by inviting listeners to ask themselves one simple question: Who are you waiting on? Maybe the permission you’ve been searching for has been in your hands all along. You don’t need to wait until you’re fearless or perfect before believing in yourself. Believe before you’re certain. Keep showing up before you have all the answers. You’re still becoming, and that’s exactly why you deserve to keep moving forward.