I have to keep reminding myself of something simple: you can just do things. No one is stopping you from signing up for that class, trying that new restaurant, or taking that trip across the country. You can just do things.

This is something I’ve struggled with for as long as I can remember. It’s not always obvious when I’m the one holding myself back. Sometimes it’s subtle. A quiet hesitation. A story I tell myself about why now isn’t the right time.

Not everything will be great, and that’s okay. You might order an interesting ramen and realize you don’t like it at all. But you tried it. You learned something about your taste. You added a small experience to your life. Other times, it might be exactly what you needed. That trip might introduce you to a lifelong friend. That class might unlock a new interest.

The point is not that everything will work out perfectly. It’s that doing something is almost always better than standing still.

So if you’re like me and occasionally need the reminder: you can just do things.