There comes a moment in life when you realise that waiting for the perfect time is a futile pursuit.
Whether it’s a new job, a challenging project, or a difficult conversation, we convince ourselves that we need more time to prepare. But here’s the truth: You’re never truly ready for what you need to do. You just do it, and in doing so, you become ready.
Life rarely presents us with neatly packaged opportunities complete with clear instructions. More often, we find ourselves thrust into situations we didn’t anticipate. Think about the first time you had to speak in front of a crowd, or faced a major decision. Did you feel ready? Probably not. Yet, you stepped up, and somehow, you managed. This is because readiness is not a state of being – it’s a result of action.
Rumi, the 13th-century Persian poet, offers profound insight: “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears.” This simple yet powerful verse reminds us that the path forward only becomes clear once we begin to walk it. You don’t need to have all the answers before you start; you just need the courage to take the first step.
The Greek philosophers also understood this well. Aristotle believed that virtue is developed through action. You don’t become courageous by waiting until you feel brave – you become brave by acting courageously, even when you’re scared. Similarly, you don’t become ready by endlessly preparing; you become ready by doing what needs to be done.
In Islam, there’s a hadith (narrated by al-Tirmidhi) that says, “Tie your camel first, and then put your trust in Allah.” This hadith speaks to the balance between taking action and having faith. It’s a reminder that while we may not feel prepared, we must still do what is required of us and trust that we will find our way, as destined by Him.
Now, reflect on this: How many opportunities have you missed because you were waiting to feel ready? How many dreams have you postponed, telling yourself that tomorrow will be the right day? The reality is that tomorrow is an illusion.
The only time you have is now.
Imagine a swimmer standing at the edge of a cold, deep pool. They might hesitate, doubting their ability to handle the shock of the water or the depth of the pool. But the moment they dive in, their body adapts, their muscles engage, and they start swimming. It’s not the preparation but the action itself that equips them for the task.
The same principle applies to all of life’s challenges, big or small. Waiting for readiness is like standing on the edge of that pool, hoping the water will somehow warm up on its own. But the water won’t change – you have to change. You have to dive in, knowing that you’ll learn to swim as you go.
It’s simple, really: Stop waiting. Stop doubting. Stop telling yourself that you’re not ready. Whatever it is that you’ve been putting off – start it today. Take that first step, even if it feels uncertain. Remember, readiness isn’t something you wait for; it’s something you create and learn through action. As the Japanese proverb goes: “Nana korobi, ya oki”, meaning “fall down seven times, stand up eight.”
When you look back, you’ll realise that the moments you grew the most weren’t the ones where you felt prepared. They were the moments when you jumped into the unknown and discovered that you were capable of far more than you ever imagined.
Only you can make it ready.
Ir Dr Nahrizul Adib Kadri is an associate professor of biomedical engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and former Director of the Corporate Communications Centre, Universiti Malaya.
The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the writer and do not necessarily represent that of Twentytwo13.
