Embracing Imperfections: Why We Must Choose to Move Forward Anyway

“Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot, but make it hot by striking.”

— William Butler Yeats

Have you ever felt that life has thrown everything problematic it can at you?

Yesterday was one of those days for me. It was tough — emotionally draining and physically taxing — and as it closed, I could feel the toll it had taken on my health.

But here’s the thing: despite the exhaustion and setbacks, I didn’t give up. I showed up. Today, I’m back to the drawing board, meditating, putting in the work, and focusing on honing my skills. In fact, I’m doing something I’ve been thinking about for a while now — starting a YouTube channel.

The plan was to record a video last evening. I had even picked a topic, one I was really excited about. But, as life often goes, unexpected events cropped up, draining my energy and adding stress to my already overwhelmed mind. I couldn’t bring myself to do the mental heavy-lifting required for such a task, and so I had to let it go.

But in the quiet aftermath, I realised something: The time is never going to be perfect. We often wait for the “right moment” — when everything is in alignment, when we feel 100% ready. But that moment hardly ever comes. Life keeps throwing curveballs, and the truth is, if we keep waiting for ideal circumstances, we’ll never get anything done.

This is where successful people shine. They don’t wait for perfection. They make the most of the present moment, even if it isn’t ideal. They adapt, adjust, and keep moving forward, no matter what. And that’s exactly what I plan to do.

For me, right now is a great time to practise speaking. Sure, I may not have the perfect environment or all the tools I imagined I’d have at my disposal, but if I keep waiting for things to “get better,” I’ll likely never take that first step. I’ll never get the practise I need to grow, and I’ll miss out on the opportunity to improve.

It’s like the principle financial experts often talk about: If you’re not able to save money when your income is small, you probably won’t save it when your income increases. Those who are disciplined enough to save when they have less are the ones who can handle greater wealth when it comes their way.

The same applies to personal growth. If I don’t practise speaking now, there’s a good chance I’ll never take the leap when conditions feel more comfortable. So, despite the challenges, I’m choosing to act today. I’m taking action even if it doesn’t feel like the best time.

I’m inspired by countless people who have succeeded despite facing extreme challenges. They made it work, and they did it by using what they had in the moment, not by waiting for perfect circumstances to align.

So here I am, moving forward. Not because everything is perfect, but because sometimes that’s the only way forward.

And I’ll speak for 10 minutes, not more than this. I won’t record or try to find a quiet corner because then I might again get entangled in a complicated loop.

Getting started is important, and the timer technique always works.

What’s that uncomfortable and productive step you’re delaying on? Set a 10-minute timer wherever you are, start on it now, and do awesome things.