You’ll Never Feel Ready, Because Ready Isn’t a Feeling, it's a Decision
May 13, 20266 min · 1,177 words
Show notes
"You are never going to feel ready, because ready isn't a feeling. It's a decision." That one hit me like a ton of bricks the first time I heard it. Because how much of our lives do we spend waiting? Waiting for clarity, for confidence, for the perfect moment that never actually comes. In this episode, I'm sharing why that feeling of readiness is a myth and what actually moves the needle. From the 200mm lens that sat untouched on my desk for six months to launching Milky Way when I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, the decision always came first. The confidence came after. You'll walk away with a new way of thinking about every idea, offer, or risk you've been putting off, and hopefully a little nudge to stop waiting and just decide. What’s in this episode: [00:00:30] The tug of war between waiting and doing [00:01:00] Why ready isn't a feeling, it's a decision [00:01:30] The 200mm lens that sat untouched for six months [00:02:30] Waiting for proof that will never come [00:03:30] How Milk and Honey and the Milky Way started before Lisa felt ready [00:04:30] How fear disguises itself as logic and responsibility [00:05:00] What the world misses when you keep waiting [00:05:30] Action builds confidence, decisions build momentum [00:06:00] Your challenge: decide today, not because you're ready, but because you chose to be If you've been waiting for that magical moment when it finally feels right, this episode is your permission slip to stop waiting and start deciding. For full show notes, resources, links and to download the transcript, visit our website: https://themilkyway.ca/podcast/
Highlighted moments
“Because ready isn't a feeling, it's a decision.”
“I didn't know how to direct them from that distance. I have a fairly quiet voice. I didn't even know if I was going to be able to make it work.”
“You don't suddenly wake up one morning, feel fully confident about doubling your prices. You decide to, and the confidence comes after.”
“these excuses sound responsible, but really they're just fear in business clothes.”
Transcript
0:00Hey friend, welcome to the Art and Soul Show. I'm your host Lisa DeJaso, a mom, a photographer, and entrepreneur. Tune in here for pep talks, conversations, and advice on photography, creativity, mindset, business, life, and that messy in between. This is the place where you can go when you need a boost of encouragement, a kick in the pants, and inspiration to pick up your camera. This is the Art and Soul Show. Hey friend, today I want to talk about something that every single one of us runs into, not just as photographers, but as humans. And that's that
0:35constant tug of war, waiting until we feel ready before we do something. Whether it's raising our prices, or launching a new offer, putting ourselves out there, or even trying a new lens. We tell ourselves we'll do it when the time feels right, when we feel more confident, when life feels less chaotic. And yet that magical moment of readiness never actually arrives. Now the truth is, you're never going to feel ready. Because ready isn't a feeling, it's a decision. Now that had me like a ton of bricks when I first heard it. I realized how much of my life I'd spent waiting. Waiting for
1:11clarity, waiting for permission, waiting for courage. And in all the waiting, nothing was happening. I wasn't getting any braver. I wasn't magically becoming more prepared. I was just stuck. So let me give you a story. Years ago, I was obsessed with this photographer I admired. I loved her work. Her work was everything I wanted mine to be. And she shot with a 200 millimeter lens and the look of it was gorgeous. The compression, oh, I just had to have it. So I saved up and I bought
1:44one. And then it sat there for six months, completely untouched. Why? Because I was scared. At the time, I was comfortable shooting mostly with my 50 millimeter. And suddenly this 200 millimeter meant I'd have to be way far away from my clients. I didn't know how to direct them from that distance. I have a fairly quiet voice. I didn't even know if I was going to be able to make it work. So I just kept waiting for the day that I would feel ready to use it. And of course, that day never actually came. So one day I finally had to decide, you know what? I'm just going to go for it.
2:18And it was really awkward at first, but I learned and it ended up being one of the best decisions I've ever made. That never would have happened if I kept waiting to feel ready. And isn't that what so many of us do? We wait for proof, proof that we won't mess it up, proof that the timing is right, proof that we won't be judged. And when we can't find that proof, we just stay small. We talk ourselves out of dreams before they even have a chance to breathe. Now I see this all the time. This happens
2:49all the time with photographers, especially those that are afraid to raise their prices. They're terrified. They'll say, I'll raise them when my work is better, when I've booked more clients, when my editing is perfect. But it's not about the work. It's about the decision to own your worth, to know your numbers. You don't suddenly wake up one morning, feel fully confident about doubling your prices. You decide to, and the confidence comes after. It's the same thing with starting my own photography business, or even teaching. I didn't feel ready. I thought, who am I to call myself a
3:25photographer? I'm self-taught. What if no one books me? What if I fail? But if I had waited to feel ready, milk and honey and the Milky Way would never exist. I just had to start. And every session taught me something. Every mistake helped me grow. The decision came first. The readiness came later. And the same thing happened when we started the Milky Way. The thought of teaching, of running retreats, of starting a podcast, of putting myself on video, it was terrifying. I was terrible at it. There was no
3:58part of me that ever felt ready for that. But I decided. And that decision led to that connection with thousands and thousands of photographers around the world, creating this beautiful community. And none of that came from feeling ready. I think what is tricky is that fear often disguises itself as logic. Fear says, maybe you should just take one more course. Fear says, maybe after the kids are older. Fear says, maybe when you're making more money. Now, these excuses sound responsible,
4:31but really they're just fear in business clothes. The longer you wait, the scary it's going to feel. And here's what happens when you keep waiting. You dim your light. Every time you hold back from showing your work, every time you delay launching a thing, every time you avoid stepping into your ideas, the world misses out on what only you can create. And listen, I don't say that to pile on guilt, but as a reminder that your perspective, your creativity, and your vision matters.
5:04No one else can bring what you bring. So if you've been waiting until you feel ready, I want you to hear me on this. You don't need to feel ready. You just need to decide. Decide that you're going to use that lens. Decide you're going to raise the price. Decide that you're going to share your work. Decide that you're going to try. And once you've made that decision, the rest unfolds. You learn, you adjust, you grow, and that's where confidence is built. I think sometimes we believe we have to feel confident before we act, but it's actually the opposite. Action builds
5:38confidence. Decisions build momentum. The readiness that you're looking for comes on the other side of choosing. So if there's something you've been sitting on, maybe a project, a change, a risk, stop waiting for permission. You have it. Stop waiting for that magical moment when it feels easy because it won't. Ready isn't a feeling, it's a decision, and you are the only one who could decide for you. Friend, I want you to really think about that thing. What is that thing for you?
6:09Maybe it's booking your first client. Maybe it's starting your business. Maybe it's launching a course. Maybe it's calling yourself an artist out loud. Whatever it is, I want you to decide today. Not because suddenly you feel ready, but because you've chosen to be ready. That's how all the good things start. So thank you so much for hanging out with me today. I hope you've enjoyed this little pep talk. I hope to be bringing you many more. Until next time, my friend, I'm sending you a so much of my light and love. We'll see you next time.