The Power of a Beginner's Mindset: Embrace it for Growth and Success

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “I should be better at this by now!” when trying something new?

Yeah, me too! I had a big reminder of that on a recent ski trip. I don’t ski often enough to be good at it, but for some reason, I expected my body to just know what to do. Spoiler alert: it didn’t.

There were some shaky turns, a couple of big wipeouts, and plenty of moments where I thought, “Why am I even doing this?” But then I remembered—being bad at something is just part of the process of getting better.

I see this occasionally in our small group training sessions. Sometimes new members join for the month-long trial, and I can see the frustration when they struggle with an exercise. Some even decide to quit, saying, “This is stupid,” or “It’s too hard.” But here’s the deal—everything feels hard before it feels easy. We’ve all been there. No matter our age, we all have to start somewhere.

The beginner’s mindset isn’t about getting it right on the first try. It’s about showing up, being open to learning, and trusting that small, consistent efforts will get you where you want to be. It’s also about letting go of that little voice that says, “I should already be great at this.”

And honestly? Keeping this mindset as we get older is one of the best things we can do for ourselves. Staying curious, learning new things, and stepping out of our comfort zones keeps our minds sharp, our bodies strong, and our spirits high. When we stop expecting perfection and start embracing the process, everything feels a little more fun—and a lot more rewarding.

So if you’ve ever felt discouraged trying something new—whether it’s lifting weights, yoga, or even just changing up your routine—know that you’re not alone. Lean into it, embrace the awkward stage, and trust that progress will come.

If you’re starting out (or starting again), be kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to be a beginner. Your future self will thank you for it.