The Only Way to Learn Is to Practice
October 21, 2026 | Vol. 12
Each week when I sit down to write the Weekly, I spend some time brainstorming the topics that have felt especially present in my life. This week, one idea kept showing up in seemingly unrelated places: practice.
Itās fascinating how, once something has our attention, we begin noticing how often it has already been showing up in our experiences, conversations, and choices.
At my vascular ultrasound appointment this week, one of the people performing the scan was a student working alongside a senior technician. They asked if I was comfortable with her participating, and I immediately said yes.
Iāve had similar experiences during my foot surgery and follow-up appointments, and I never hesitate to let someone observe or practice. While I was lying there during the ultrasound, a thought came to me:
The only way to learn is to practice.
It seems obvious when weāre watching someone else learn. Of course the student needs to practice. We donāt expect her to walk into the room already knowing how to do everything perfectly.
Yet how often do we expect exactly that from ourselves?
We want to feel confident before we begin. We want to know exactly what weāre doing before anyone sees us try. We interpret the awkwardness and discomfort of being new as evidence that we arenāt good at something, rather than recognizing it as part of becoming better.
Iāve been reminded of this since restarting yoga last week. A few years ago, I had a daily at-home yoga practice. I would choose a 30-day program, finish it, and move into another one. I did that for over a year! Yoga made me feel strong, and it was such a beautiful way to connect my mind and body. It was peaceful and soothing, with a good literal stretch too. š
I tried restarting several times over the past year and kept getting frustrated. It wasnāt as easy after being away from it for so long, and the issues with my foot made it painful. Now, as I continue to heal after reconstructive foot surgery, my body still cannot do everything it could before. My surgeon says to expect at least nine months for recovery! I decided I didnāt want to wait nine months before I restarted yoga.
When I sat down on my mat after deciding to begin again, the instructorās first question was, āWhat is your intention for these 30 days?ā
I will show up for myself, and I will give myself permission for it to be okay when I need to modify.
I could compare myself to what I used to be able to do and make every modification mean Iām failing or weak. Or I can recognize that every time I show up, Iām rebuilding strength, reconnecting with my body, and practicing.
This theme has been showing up everywhere. I started writing on Substack this week, actively dismantling the belief that Iām not a writer. Inside the Pure Possibilities Collective, weāre beginning a Discomfort Zone Challenge built around choosing something weāve wanted to do, breaking it into manageable steps, and practicing moving through the discomfort instead of waiting for it to disappear.
This week, I also released the 152nd episode of the Pure Possibilities Podcast, which feels absolutely wild to say. I certainly didnāt begin with the experience or confidence I have now. I gained it by recording one episode, then another, and another.
Every one of these things began with a decision to start before I knew exactly how it would go.
We donāt build confidence by waiting for it. We build it by doing the thing, noticing what happens, adjusting, and trying again. Practice didnāt suddenly start showing up in every area of my life this week. I simply started noticing it.
Practice doesnāt require perfection. It asks us to stay with ourselves through the awkwardness, the modifications, and the moments when we donāt feel capable yet, long enough to create new evidence about what we can do.
Where are you expecting yourself to already be good at something you havenāt allowed yourself to practice yet?
Hit reply and share it with me. Iād love to hear what comes up for you.
This Week on the Pure Possibilities Podcast
Whatās Your Relationship With Being Wrong?
Episode 152 | Episode 39 of the Relationship Series
We often say itās okay to be wrong, but how comfortable are we actually admitting it?
In Episode 152, Iām exploring our fear of being wrong, our need to be right, the assumptions we make, and the meaning we attach to our mistakes. Sometimes we avoid trying something new because being wrong might feel like evidence that we arenāt capable, intelligent, or good enough.
But making a mistake, changing your mind, or trying something that doesnāt work doesnāt have to mean anything about who you are. When we loosen our attachment to being right, we create more room to learn, grow, and see possibilities we may have missed.
And yes, this is the 152nd episode of the podcast!! Yay!! š
New episodes drop every Tuesday at 12:00 a.m. Pacific.
What If Weekly...
This morning, before pulling this card, I was listening to an interview with renowned psychic medium John Edward. He shared his belief that beneath our choices are two primary motivations: love and fear.
Then I pulled this card:
What if I consistently choose love over fear?
Well, apparently I was meant to sit with that one today. š
Fear, excitement, and anxiety can feel very similar in our bodies, which can make it difficult to understand what weāre actually experiencing. Fear also isnāt always something weāre supposed to ignore or push through. Sometimes it is alerting us to actual danger or something that needs our attention. Other times, it is the discomfort of being asked to try something unfamiliar, have a difficult conversation, or step beyond what has felt safe.
The invitation isnāt to automatically dismiss fear or force ourselves to choose what appears more loving. It is to pause and become curious about what is underneath the feeling. Is there actual danger here? Is my body warning me about something important? Or am I being asked to do something that feels uncomfortable because it's important to me?
What information is coming through, and what intention do I want to choose from?
Where in your life could you pause and ask whether your next choice is being motivated by fear, love, or information that deserves your attention?
Whatās Unfolding...
You Are the Foundation
Self-care, caring for yourself, and self-love are often used interchangeably, but they arenāt the same thing. Theyāre deeply connected, though, and each plays an important role in the relationship you have with yourself.
You are the one person present for every experience of your life, and every relationship you have includes you. You Are the Foundation is a free three-part guide that explores how these practices work together and what each one can look like in your life.
Explore the New Pure Possibilities Website
Pure Possibilities has a fresh new look! I recently redesigned the website so that it feels clearer, warmer, and much more like me.
Whether youāre feeling stuck, navigating the ups and downs of life, or curious about what else might be possible for you, the new site makes it easier to explore the free resources, podcast, experiences, and ways we can work together.
Iād love for you to take a look around and see what catches your attention.
Until next week, pause, notice, reconnect... and give yourself permission to practice before you expect yourself to be good at it.
Much love,
Shannonš
