There are so many times I didn’t try something because I was afraid.

I was afraid I couldn’t do it, or afraid I’d be bad at it. I was afraid I’d look weird/inexperienced/dumb/and the list goes on. Usually though, I was just afraid it would be ugly. When I say ugly, I mean challenging to figure out, or uncomfortable and imperfect.

This has happened with things like fitness classes, dietary changes, social events, business ideas, relationships and other changes. I think most of us can relate to this and remember a time or two when we decided not to even bother because we didn’t want to deal with the ugly.

This past weekend I was in the gym following an app guided workout and doing exercises I’ve never tried before. I knew what they were supposed to look like, but that’s not what I looked like doing them. My version wasn’t even close. It looked ugly, felt ugly, and was a bit of a struggle. I’m going to do them again in a few days, and a few days after that. I’m going to do them until they don’t feel ugly anymore.

The ugliness used to hold me back, but now I realize that if I just ease in and let it be ugly, it will eventually feel good and add value to my life. The ugly is almost always temporary.

Even nature knows you have to be ugly first. Butterflies don’t start out looking so good. And what about ugly ducklings? Scratch that, I think all ducklings are completely adorable.

A few changes to share with you

Things get ugly in my business too. Especially right now as I’m making some big changes. I recently merged my two main sites, Be More with Less, and Project 333, and their Facebook pages. I created and launched a new, free challenge called The Busy Boycott, and I moved to a new email provider.

These changes have been months in the making and I didn’t want you to know about any of them until they were pretty. Then I thought, if you knew what to expect, you might understand and be patient with the ugly patches instead of surprised by them.

Chances are you won’t experience any ugliness in these changes though, and I’m here to help if you do.

Here’s what to expect …

If you are an Email subscriber:
The email I send moving forward will look better than what you’ve been used to and updates will arrive from courtney@wordpress-367308-1145677.cloudwaysapps.com. Also, on December 27th, you will be receiving an invitation to join The Busy Boycott Challenge. It’s free, and completely optional. You don’t have to anything else but watch for the email invitation.

If you are are already participating in the challenge, or not interested, simply ignore the invite.

If you read this blog via blog reader or connect through social media:
If you subscribe via Feedly, Bloglovin, or another feed reader, or if you are catching this post from social media, and you want to continue on the journey, and check out The 21-Day Busy Boycott Challenge, please sign up here.

If you are looking for minimalist fashion challenge Project 333 articles and information:
All Project 333 archives are right here, and anything you want to know about Project 333 is right here. I’ll still be writing about capsule wardrobes and simple closets along with simplicity for health, money, work, life, and love.

Course update:
How to Create a Microbusiness that Matters, a microcourse I offer now includes a bonus module on blogging.

New Challenge:
The Busy Boycott, a 21-day challenge to help you trade your busy life for a full one is now available for all email subscribers. If you are already subscribed and reading this message via email, I’ll be sending you an invite. If not, please sign up here.

Why all the changes?

Simplicity is the way back to love.

Be More with Less and Project 333 are back together with one website, one Facebook Page, and one mission … Let’s find our way back to what really matters by getting rid of everything that doesn’t.

These changes are going to make things simpler for all of us; simpler for me to get articles to you, simpler for you to enjoy them, and simpler for us to connect and inspire each other.

If we are willing to let it be ugly.

I probably would have made these changes sooner if I was willing to let them be ugly.

What do you want to experience, or change, or try, but hesitate because you are afraid? Do you want to …

• write a book?
• start an Instagram account and share your photography?
• quit sugar?
• tell someone you love them?
• take a yoga class?
• learn to draw?
• start a blog?
• run a marathon?

If we are willing to let it be ugly, we can be more supportive and encouraging when people we love are trying something new, and open our hearts to new adventures and beginnings.

If we are willing to let it be ugly, we reject perfection and give ourselves the time and space we need to bloom.

Shall we bloom?