It is difficult being a beginner at any age.
But…it becomes harder being a beginner as we grow older. We expect beginners to be young and inexperienced. What happens when we reach a certain age and decide to try something different is that there seem to be higher performance expectations—both from others and from ourselves.We should know how to “do it”. Perhaps that is why—as we mature—we become less inclined to make a change in the work we do.
Most of us will remember learning how to ride a bicycle or tie our shoes. It took
practice and often the steady hands, guidance and patience of others as we tried to balance on two wheels or loop the lace of our shoes. We felt awkward and we made mistakes. But it was different then. We were kids and kids often feel awkward and make mistakes. We knew that the only way to get better was through practice.
Embarrassment may hold us back from practicing— from taking the time necessary to hone new skills. We may give up before we have given ourselves the chance to get better.Telling ourselves that “we just are not very good” at doing whatever it is we are trying to learn to do. We give learning no space.
If you want to do something different and doing something different requires learning something new, be patient and be kind to yourself. Even at “your age” taking off the training wheels can be scary. And besides, you may want to leave them on while you get a better feeling for the road ahead of you.