Get ready for a 2-minute dose of ‘aha!’ with this inspiring article. But if you’re the kind of person who loves to know the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ and become a real expert, our menu is brimming with extra insights for your curious mind.”
A message from today’s meditation:
This week we’ll dive into the teachings of Alan Cohen, a widely recognized author, speaker, and spiritual teacher known for his insightful and uplifting perspectives on life, personal growth, and well-being. Cohen began his path of writing and teaching in the early 1980s and has published over 30 inspirational books, including popular titles like A Course in Miracles Made Easy and The Dragon Doesn’t Live Here Anymore.
As we step into this brand new week, he reminds us that we don’t need to have all of the clarity in order to take the next step. And also, I couldn’t resist adding Rumi’s teaching on the same subject as well –
“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect.” – Alan Cohen
“As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” – Rumi
Has the lack of perfect conditions been holding you back from creating? Are you putting too much pressure on yourself to create perfection? Or perhaps, are you paralyzed by the pressure to create something perfect?
The path forward doesn’t reveal itself through endless planning; it emerges through movement, however small and imperfect those first steps might be.
Consider this: every masterpiece began with a rough sketch. Every successful business started with an imperfect idea. Every meaningful relationship began with an awkward first conversation. The magic happens not in the perfection of the beginning, but in the courage to begin at all.
However, we don’t need to create something new in order to change our approach, we can practice with whatever we’re doing right now. What if we approached our goals not as burdensome obligations but as opportunities for joyful exploration? What if we could reclaim that childlike sense of wonder that makes creating feel like play rather than pressure?
“Be happy with what you have, and also… be excited about what you want.” – Alan Cohen
“Life has meaning only if you do what is meaningful to you.” – Alan Cohen
“Joy is the wild card of life; it supersedes every other formula for success. If you can find a way to create joy, you can rise beyond all external factors. If you can play at whatever you are doing, you are the master of your life.” – Alan Cohen
When we change the way we look at things, then the things we look at change. When we shift our perspective, the world around us transforms. Instead of viewing every task as a monumental challenge, we can find ways to inject playfulness, meaning, and excitement into the process. Sometimes it takes only a small shift in perspective to realize we can have a lot more fun doing the things we are already doing.
Shift perspective on how you create by asking yourself these three questions:
- Am I excited about what I’m creating? Passion is the fuel that propels us forward. If the project you’re contemplating doesn’t spark a flicker of excitement, it might be time to change what you’re doing, or change how you approach what you’re doing.
- Can I be happy with what I have, and also excited about what I’m creating? Too often we’re desperately trying to create something new because we’re deeply unhappy with where we are, only to find that un-happiness always follows us when it is our driving force.
- How can I embrace the feeling of playing while I create? Remember the joy of childhood, when creating was an act of pure exploration? Reclaim that playful spirit! Approach your project with a sense of curiosity and experimentation. Allow yourself to make mistakes, learn from them, and enjoy the process.
The path to your dreams doesn’t require perfect conditions – it requires commitment to imperfect action. Your next step doesn’t need to be flawless; it just needs to be forward.
Join us for today’s meditation journey to create a picture of what you want your week to be.
– pierre –
Today’s LIVE meditation is: Let’s jumpstart this week!
A moment of reflection
(If you have the time, use this question as a journal prompt, because whenever you put pen to paper you’re wiring the neural pathways that create your new habits. But if you don’t have the time, just take a moment to reflect on your response.)
Gratitude for right now… and also… Goals for the future: Alan Cohen suggests we can “be happy with what we have, and also excited about what we want.” Explore this paradox in your own life: Write about what you’re genuinely grateful for and content with in your current situation. Then, without dismissing that contentment, describe what genuinely excites you about your future possibilities. How can you hold both of these truths simultaneously? What would it look like to pursue your dreams from a place of abundance and excitement rather than lack or desperation?
Today’s LIVE meditation
https://youtu.be/vGbHLXCVkkM 2025
https://youtu.be/jUW_m1_lzwE 2024
https://youtu.be/IYiltu5HFkU 2022
Q&A for deeper learning
1. How do I know if I’m being perfectionist or just having high standards?
The key difference lies in whether your standards are empowering or paralyzing. High standards motivate you to do your best work while still allowing you to begin and make progress. Perfectionism, on the other hand, often prevents you from starting because nothing feels “good enough” yet. If you find yourself endlessly preparing, researching, or planning without taking action, or if you abandon projects because they don’t meet impossible standards, you’re likely dealing with perfectionism rather than healthy high standards.
2. What if taking imperfect action leads to failure or embarrassment?
This fear is natural, but consider this: the “failure” of not trying at all is guaranteed, while the “failure” of imperfect action teaches valuable lessons and often leads to unexpected opportunities. Most successful people have stories of embarrassing early attempts that ultimately led to breakthroughs. Remember, as the article mentions, every masterpiece began with a rough sketch. Your imperfect action today could be the foundation for tomorrow’s success.
3. How can I maintain excitement about my goals when the initial enthusiasm fades?
Enthusiasm naturally ebbs and flows, which is why it’s important to reconnect regularly with your deeper “why.” Ask yourself what makes this goal meaningful to you personally, not what others expect. Also, try breaking your goal into smaller, more immediately rewarding steps. The article’s emphasis on finding joy in the process rather than just the outcome is crucial here—when you can enjoy the journey itself, motivation becomes more sustainable.
4. Is it really possible to be happy with what I have while still being ready to create the next?
Absolutely. This isn’t about settling or becoming complacent—it’s about creating from abundance rather than desperation. When you appreciate your current situation, you remove the desperate energy that can make goal pursuit feel heavy and pressured. This paradox actually makes you more effective because you’re not operating from a place of lack. You can love your current life AND be excited about growing it further.
5. How do I inject more playfulness into serious goals like career advancement or financial stability?
Even serious goals can benefit from a playful approach. This might mean experimenting with new strategies rather than rigidly following one plan, celebrating small wins along the way, or finding ways to make the process more enjoyable. For career advancement, you could approach networking as meeting interesting people rather than “using” others. For financial goals, you could gamify your saving or make learning about money feel like solving puzzles rather than homework.
6. What does “small imperfect action” actually look like in practice?
Small imperfect action varies by goal, but examples include: writing one paragraph instead of waiting to craft the perfect chapter, sending one networking email instead of perfecting your entire career strategy, exercising for 10 minutes instead of waiting for the ideal workout plan, or sketching one rough idea instead of waiting for the perfect creative vision. The key is that these actions are small enough to feel manageable but meaningful enough to create momentum.
7. How do I deal with criticism or judgment when I put imperfect work out into the world?
Remember that criticism of imperfect work is infinitely more valuable than praise for work that never sees the light of day. Most criticism comes from people who aren’t creating anything themselves. Focus on feedback from those whose opinions you truly value and who are supportive of your growth. More importantly, develop your own internal compass for what feels meaningful and joyful to you. As Alan Cohen notes, “Life has meaning only if you do what is meaningful to you”—not what others think you should find meaningful.