Have you ever made a promise to yourself? Something like “I’ll start that hobby,” or “This weekend I’ll finally record that video,” only to reach the end of the day and realize you haven’t moved a finger?

Me too. Many, many times.

But here’s the thing: sometimes you have to gently pressure yourself to follow through. You have to say:

“Look, you said you were going to do this. Do it. Even if you’re tired, even if you’re bored, even if you feel off. Just start. Because once you start, the reward will kick in. Your future self will thank you.”

My Story: From Daydreaming to Doing

For over three years, I had this itch:
I wanted to create a cooking channel. I was baking like crazy, decorating cakes, inventing new recipes. My friends and family kept telling me, “You should start a TikTok. Your food is amazing!”

But I couldn’t.
I felt blocked, stuck, and uncreative.
I lacked confidence, and I didn’t believe I had anything worth showing.
Now I know that that was the biggest lie I told myself.

Fast forward three years.

I’ve had my cooking TikTok channel for 9 months. Do I have thousands of followers? No.
But I love what I’m doing. And honestly? I’m not doing it for anyone. I’m doing it for me.   Because it helps me fight my self-doubt. It grounds me. And it brings me joy. And the craziest part is that once I started, everything felt lighter. The fear, the self-consciousness –  it started to shrink.

What Helped Me Push Through (And Might Help You Too)

These are not hacks. They’re reminders. Mindsets. Truths I come back to when I feel like quitting or postponing:

• You don’t have to feel like doing it to start doing it.
  Waiting for motivation is a trap. Action creates motivation, not the other way around.
  
• Small starts matter.
  Record a 10-second video. Sketch for 5 minutes. Add a new ingredient to your usual recipe. It all counts.
  
• You’re allowed to do it just for you.
  Not everything needs to be a side hustle or content strategy. Let joy be enough.
  
• Show up imperfectly.
  My first videos didn’t show my face. Then I added voiceovers. Then — surprise — I started appearing on camera. One step at a time.
  
• Resourcefulness is more powerful than perfection.
  I moved to 3 different countries in 9 months. I filmed with no tripod, used pots instead of mixing bowls, and recorded with my phone propped up on books. It wasn’t “ideal” – but it was enough.

Reminders I Keep Coming Back To

• “It doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to be real.”
  
• “Even if one person connects, it’s worth it.”
  
• “Start ugly. Start scared. Just start.”
  
• “Consistency doesn’t mean never missing a day. It means returning.”
  
• “You’re allowed to outgrow the version of you who was scared.”
  

Final Words

Your creativity doesn’t need a perfect plan, a beautiful home, or the best equipment, but it needs you, showing up as you are, today, with whatever tools and courage you have.

So if you’ve been waiting for a sign to begin, this is it.
Record. Write. Dance. Bake. Speak. Paint. Explore. Share.
Or don’t share. Just do it. For you.

Because the version of you who’s still waiting?
They deserve to finally be listened to.