The Journey of Firsts

Firsts are a constant part of our early lives. Our first breath, our first cry, our first meal. Then come our first smile, first step and first word.

As we grow, we accumulate hundreds, if not thousands, of first experiences. Our first friend, first exam, first kiss, first job, first car and first home. But somewhere along the way, those firsts tend to slow down.

By the time we reach our 30s, 40s and beyond, many of our experiences become variations of things we already know. We become comfortable and capable. We know what we like, what we’re good at and, perhaps just as importantly, what we’d rather avoid!

And that’s why deliberately doing something new can feel so uncomfortable.

Rediscovering the Beginner’s Perspective

Over the past years, I’ve had several experiences that have reminded me what it feels like to be a beginner again. Whether it’s trying a new workout, learning a different skill or putting myself in a situation where I don’t quite know what I’m doing, those first few attempts can be humbling.

Suddenly, things that look easy when someone else does them require far more concentration than expected. I have to listen carefully, think about what I’m doing and accept that I’m probably not going to get it right the first time. It’s also reminded me of the courage it takes for someone to walk into an exercise class for the first time. While everyone around them seems to know exactly what they’re doing, they’re trying to work out where to stand, which way to move and how on earth everyone else knew the choreography before they did!

Experiencing that feeling again has given me an even greater appreciation for the beginners who take that leap of faith and start something new.

Becoming the Student Again

There is another side to being a beginner that I have come to appreciate more as the years go by, deliberately putting yourself back into the position of being the student.

When you’ve been teaching for a long time, it’s very easy to stay with what you know. You have experience, favourite ways of doing things and plenty of ideas that work. But experience shouldn’t mean we stop being curious.

Sometimes learning isn’t about discovering something completely new. It might be seeing a familiar exercise taught differently. Hearing a cue that suddenly makes more sense. Understanding the science behind something you’ve been doing for years. Or simply having one of those moments where you think, “I’d forgotten about that!”

Some of my favourite learning moments have come from watching other instructors and educators. One small idea can make me rethink something I’ve taught for years. That’s one of the reasons I continue to value education events and opportunities to spend time with other fitness professionals.

Workshops and conferences are a wonderful example of that for me. Maybe I’m there as an educator, but I’ll also be listening, watching, sharing ideas, asking questions and learning from the other presenters and instructors around me. No matter how many years we’ve been teaching, there is always something we can learn from someone else.

Sometimes it’s good to step away from being the expert and enjoy being the student again.

Encouraging Brave Beginners

Of course, being a beginner isn’t always comfortable. Whether you’re starting a new form of exercise, attending your first class, learning a new skill or developing professionally, there are a few things worth remembering.

Start small. You don’t need to master everything immediately. Give yourself one thing to focus on and allow your confidence to build from there.

Embrace the learning process. Everyone starts somewhere. Comparing your beginning with someone else’s years of experience is never particularly helpful.

Ask for support. Find someone who can answer your questions, learn alongside someone else or put yourself in an environment where asking questions is encouraged.

Be patient with yourself. Getting something wrong is part of learning. In fact, sometimes the mistakes are where the best learning happens.

Keep showing up. Things that initially require enormous concentration eventually become familiar. That’s how learning works.

Discovering Something New

One of the lovely things about trying something new is that you don’t always know what you’ll discover.

You might find a type of exercise you never expected to enjoy. You might learn a new teaching technique that completely changes the way you coach something. You might meet someone who gives you a different perspective. Or you might remind yourself that you’re capable of learning something new.

Being experienced and being a beginner aren’t opposites. We can be incredibly knowledgeable in one area and completely new to another. In fact, I think continuing to put ourselves in situations where we don’t know everything is one of the ways we continue to grow.

Give Yourself Permission to Be a Beginner Again

We spend so much of our adult lives becoming competent at what we do that it can be tempting to avoid the things we’re not yet good at. Perhaps we need to turn that around occasionally.

• Try something you haven’t done before.
• Attend the session where you don’t already know the subject.
• Watch how someone else teaches.
• Ask the question.
• Be willing to get it wrong.

And don’t worry if everyone else seems to know what they’re doing. Chances are, at some point, they were standing exactly where you are.

Permit yourself to be a beginner again.