Today’s post on ‘being ready’ was contributed by Merry Lynch Pavlak, an ex-pat living in Poland. I love her fascinating point of view! Enjoy, darlings.

Sometimes we are placed in situations and we have no idea how got there. But there we are, feeling overwhelmed and wondering if we actually are “ready.”

It’s been a long journey. I’m a 66-year-old wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, all wrapped up in one — as many of us are. My husband and I began a journey of a lifetime eight years ago. We had an idea. Why not go see what the rest of the world has to offer? Seemed reasonable. A question many people our age are asking themselves. What next?

How You Can Be Ready When You’re Not: A New Beginning

The journey took us to many different countries. All with amazing, embarrassing, joy-filled, exhausting, and beautiful days. In the end, we settled on Poland. A country many Americans don’t even have on their radar screen.

It’s a beautiful country with many hidden secrets. I wanted to discover something, in me. Personally, I was drawn to how this country and its people had been through so much, and yet they welcomed me with open arms. This is even though I don’t speak their language, understand the metric system, and have never ridden on public transportation.

We settled in a city named Lodz (pronounced Woow-g). Though it happens to be the city where my husband was born, he was dead set against moving back to Poland. For him it was entwined with the memories of communism and a brutal and gruesome story of his brother’s murder by the Nazis. It was something he had to overcome, and I truly felt the weight of those memories as we started our new life here.

A Piece of Home in a New World

After settling in and purchasing a forty-five square meter apartment… downsizing on steroids… I began to look for friends and decided to try volunteering at a local university. Wildly enough, when I walked in the front door, straight ahead of me was a sign for the “American Corner.”

Was this a coincidence? I wonder about those things sometimes. Of all the places in the world we could have landed, we moved right next door to a university with an American library.

Excited, I walked right in and introduced myself. The director asked me if I would help in building an English-speaking community. I jumped at the chance. The University of Lodz is an international university, students come from around the globe. Many of the classes are taught in English.

The English conversation meetings at American Corner were filled with people from countries that I really had never heard of. Not to mention, I certainly had no idea of their customs, cultures, or religions. It was fascinating and interesting to experience such diversity!

Being Ready to Stand Up and Say Yes

With the success of this program, they asked if I would facilitate workshops for women. Together we created a group called the Young Women’s Leadership Group. We weren’t sure what we would do but it was a start. By training and profession, I am a human behavior specialist and a transformation trainer and a life coach. My background was in leadership development.

It was fun and kept me busy. I was meeting with young women and helping them find their path, often fueled by a strong desire to create meaningful change in their lives. In many cultures, your parents dictate what you will study and, ultimately, what you will do with your life. This was a foreign concept to me and one I had to learn to accept. I had to be careful and thoughtful as I worked through this with the young women that would find their way to the American Corner.

Building Your Support System

When you’re standing at the edge of something new—whether it’s a job, a course, or a whole new chapter in your life—it’s easy to feel a mix of excitement and fear. That first step can feel enormous, especially when you’re not sure if you’re ready. But here’s the truth: you don’t have to do it alone. Building a support system can make all the difference in how confident and courageous you feel as you move forward.

Take a deep breath and think about the people in your life who make you feel seen and heard. Maybe it’s a friend who always knows the right words to say, or a family member who’s been your cheerleader through every stage. Sometimes, it’s a mentor or even someone you’ve only met online, but who understands exactly what you’re going through. Don’t be afraid to reach out and start a conversation about your dreams, your doubts, and the process you’re about to begin. You might be surprised at how much comfort and advice you’ll find when you’re honest about your feelings.

It’s completely normal to feel afraid or to doubt yourself. In fact, most people never feel ready before they take that first step. But when you share your fears with someone you trust, you’ll realize you’re not alone. That sense of connection can give you the courage to stop waiting and start acting, even if you’re still scared. Sometimes, just hearing a friend say, “I believe in you,” is enough to help you move forward.

Remember, your support system doesn’t have to look a certain way. It could be a group chat, a weekly call, or an online forum where you can talk openly about your progress and setbacks. The important thing is to surround yourself with people who encourage you to keep going, even when you want to give up. Their words and presence can help you feel more confident and less alone as you navigate each new moment.

So, if you’re sitting there wondering if you’re ready, know that you don’t have to wait for the perfect feeling. Decide to take that first step, and let your support system walk beside you. The process of building a new life, a new job, or a new sense of self is rarely easy, but it’s always easier with friends by your side. Take a deep breath, be honest about your fears, and move forward—one conversation, one moment, one step at a time. You’ll realize that the courage to begin was inside you all along, just waiting for you to decide to act.

A New Challenge: Taking the First Step

This year, the Director asked me to facilitate a five-week program called Empower Her Future. I was thrilled at the concept and jumped at the chance to challenge myself with something new, even though I recognized the emotional and professional risk involved in taking on such a responsibility. Though I didn’t know exactly what to expect, I knew it would be rewarding and I was totally on board. The program begins February 2nd, just a few short days away as I write this, and will run for five weeks, making timely action essential.

We had twenty-five spots available, all the room would hold. The seats filled up in two days. If I had waited even a few more days to decide, I might have missed this opportunity entirely. I was sent the roster of women that would attend, aged between 18-35, either students or career women.

These twenty-five women are from seven different countries. As I viewed the list, I could feel my body tense. Was I ready? I asked myself this question over and over again. I was excited and overwhelmed at the same time.

Am I Ready For This, or Will I Never Feel Ready?

The world is in a bad place right now. Good vs evil looms heavy on the horizon. I live a short ten-hour drive from the front lines of a war. Was I ready? Importantly, I had to consider what truly matters in moments like these—how our lives are shaped by the actions we take, even when it feels like everything could go wrong.

The women are from Ukraine, Poland, Serbia, Russia, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, and Yemen. I asked myself again, was I ready to facilitate conversations between literal war-torn countries? At this point, I realized that readiness is not about waiting for the perfect moment, but about having the mindset to wake up and step forward, even when it feels uncertain.

• Was I ready to set aside my judgments and criticisms and come from a place of nurturing, putting the well-being and happiness of each person in the group in the first place?
• Was I ready to lead discussions of empowerment and personal growth, knowing that what we were talking about absolutely matters for each of their lives?
• Helping women to release their pain and stories of the past and present, so they can step into a brighter future, is not just about talking—it’s about creating a space where no one feels shame for their experiences, and where everyone can imagine a new beginning.

I have worked all my life for this moment. Am I ready? At some point, you have to rest from overthinking and just pull yourself into action, even if it feels heavy or you fear what might happen. Importantly, you must not forget that your self-worth and the matter at hand are more significant than any doubts or the fear of being wrong.

Have you run across a time in your life when you doubted yourself? When part of you wanted to jump in head-on, while the other voice in your head said to run fast in the opposite direction? Maybe you wondered how much time you should spend preparing, or if you should just start writing your own story. I’d love to hear your stories in the comment section—especially if you’ve mentioned a turning point where you chose to lead, despite uncertainty.

If you enjoyed this story, you might enjoy the blog The Art of Bending With Empowerment.

Hi! I’m Merry and I specialize in igniting human potential.

We all have dreams, and it’s my professional passion to help you achieve the life you’re dreaming of. Through vision boarding, 1:1 coaching, or my unique in-depth life envisioning courses, we’ll get you started on your brave new second act in life. Find me at BravingMidlife.com