By Vuyelwa Mkhabela
Throughout my journey, I have noticed that starting something new almost always comes with a critical, anxious voice. One that’s quick to remind me of my past failures. It’s a daunting, sometimes even crippling fear, wondering if things will work out or if I’ll mess everything up. I often find myself caught in this cycle for a while, feeling scared, uncertain, and second-guessing myself. But then, slowly, I start getting used to doing the new thing, and the anxious thoughts begin to fade away, little by little.
However, what happens when I must start something over again? Even though I’ve done it before, I’ve found that the same crippling fear visits. The uninvited anxious thoughts flood my mind again. I used to ask myself if this was normal, and yes, I’ve come to realise that it most definitely is.
The Power of Beginning Again
It’s hard enough starting something new, and it can most certainly be intimidating to begin again. To put yourself out there again, especially if the first attempt did not go well or as expected. Being at the starting line again, when I could hardly make it to the finish line, to begin with, can be a very difficult thing to process.
Conclusion
Nevertheless, life gives us these unseemly magical moments every once in a while. This has shown me that there will be times and situations out of my control that will require me to start something over again, regardless of how I feel or what I think. Sometimes I won’t have a choice, and I’ve noticed that wrestling with and accepting that realisation is what brings out the increasing levels of self-doubt. But I have also learned that there is an immense amount of power in embracing the need to start over. It’s a strange kind of magic, a quiet strength, that allows you to begin again, this time with more grace, wisdom, and resilience than before. So never doubt the power of beginning again.
