G. K. Chesterton

The Courage to Begin Badly, and Persist

Translating the aphorism into habit starts with shrinking the first step until it is almost embarrassingly easy: two minutes of scales, ten lines of a draft, a single push-up. Next, protect a cadence of low-stakes repetitions—short sessions compound faster than heroic sprints. Share early versions with a trusted circle for specific feedback, and track streaks so progress becomes visible. Over time, the early badness fades, but the courage that allowed it remains, ready to inaugurate the next worthy thing. [...]

Reframing Inconvenience as the Threshold of Adventure

With boundaries clear, the practice is simple. First, rename the moment: from “problem” to “plot point.” Next, ask a better question—What skill might this teach? What encounter does it permit? Then set a small objective inside the disruption, like learning one phrase, mapping one block, or testing one workaround. Finally, debrief the episode as a story. Repeated often, this habit trains the eye to find the adventure already hiding in the inconvenience. [...]