Iteration

I am trying to lean into the concept of iteration. As the new year begins, I am looking into my habits, my rituals, and my projects. Sometimes, I get caught in the planning phase – how exactly does my morning ritual need to flow, what are the details of my writing ritual and so on. Often it becomes hard to get over the planning hump. I have to remember to simply begin with the intention you are holding and the first few details, and it will get better. It will fill itself out, it will morph, it will change. Everything about your life and practices will not look on Dec 31 as it had been envisioned on Jan 1. And that is a beautiful thing. I have come to the realization that life is a process. You have to keep at it, lean into practices and habits and rituals. But I have to relearn and accept that life is an iterative process. You must begin, you will learn, chance, and adapt. Sometimes that is scary for me – trying to rely on myself to shift in real time – I think if I can just think it all the way through, I can hit play and guarantee success. But life is meant to be lived, it requires active engagement, it requires iteration. Whether I accept it or not, my life has already taken that shape – as I adjust things each year and grow and add new layers. I just need to allow myself to walk in the freedom of remembering this truth, so it is not so hard for me to simply get started. I will get there. The idea, the ritual, the project, this life will get to where it is meant to be. This is a planting season, and I need not miss the window waiting for the perfect conditions. Let go of the seed being held and watch it transform – it will surely do nothing left in your hands. So, I am challenging myself to go ahead with the first iteration of all these seeds I have been waiting to plant. Time to begin.