No one talks about the safety of learning. Sure, one could argue: It feels scary, like swimming for the first time when not just your coach but the whole world is just pushing you off the edge, whispering in your ear, “Sink or swim.” What will you choose?

I don’t believe in the magic of naturally knowing how to move your limbs when the paralysing thought that you might just die just keeps flashing before your eyes. What I believe in is known as “perseverance.”

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” — Zig Ziglar

If diving right in doesn’t seem welcoming, then you could slowly move down the ladder they carefully built for you to just dip your toes in. (This way is harder, but it sticks!) You surrender to the torturous cold water patiently, and then you decide: This is it. I’m going to learn. So you do your homework every day. You show up on time. You do your daily one hour. And soon enough, when your coach asks you to dive, it becomes your favourite part of the day.

What’s diving without first learning to swim? That’s the safety I’m talking about. Learning feels safe. It feels intentional. It can be calming. You’re allowed to make mistakes. That’s liberating.

So go back to your desk, and this time before you sit to learn, take a breath and remind yourself that learning is not a chore but a privilege. Use your brain, eat vegetables, and remember: “Practice makes p̶e̶r̶f̶e̶c̶t̶ better!”