Have you been quietly waiting for something to happen before you start the life you actually want? A better time, the right number on the scale, the right person, more money in the bank — something. In this episode, I want to talk about what I call the knight in shining armor myth, and why naming it out loud may be the most important thing you do this week.
The Knight Isn't Always a Person
We were raised — directly or indirectly — with the idea that someone or something will arrive and make life make sense. But the knight isn't always a romantic partner. For most of us, it looks like the right time, the right circumstances, the right conditions. It's the quiet permission we're waiting on before we'll begin.
Waiting Is Fear With a Costume On
We tell ourselves we're being responsible or strategic. But most of the time, waiting is fear dressed up as patience. When we outsource the decision to our circumstances — "when the planets all line up, I'll move" — we never have to be the one who chose and got it wrong. It's a very human strategy, and it costs us more than we realize.
Your Life Isn't Paused While You Wait
This is the part I don't want you to miss. The cost of waiting is invisible. It accumulates quietly. It doesn't look like a crisis — it looks like a decade later, glancing back and thinking, "I always meant to do that." Your health isn't waiting. Your creative work isn't waiting. Time itself does not wait.
Release the Framework Entirely
I'm not going to tell you to fight harder or find your warrior spirit — that's not who I am. What I'm suggesting is something different: release the whole framework that says conditions must be right before you can begin. The knight was never coming. Readiness isn't a feeling you wait for — it's something you build by starting.
Name the Knight
The one action I want you to take this week: name the knight. Get specific about what you've been waiting for. Say it out loud. Write it down. Because when you actually name it — "I've been waiting until I lose weight," "I've been waiting until someone will do this with me" — it loses its power. It stops being a reasonable condition and starts being what it actually is: a story you've been telling yourself.
You don't need a giant life overhaul. You need one small step — taken this week, without waiting for the knight. That's how all of this works. And once you start acting, you start feeling ready. It doesn't work the other way around.
Jill’s Links
http://jillfromthenorthwoods.com
https://www.youtube.com/@startwithsmallsteps
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/startwithsmallsteps
https://twitter.com/schmern
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By choosing to watch this video or listen to this podcast, you acknowledge that you are doing so of your own free will. The content shared here reflects personal experiences and opinions and is intended for informational and inspirational purposes only. I am not a licensed therapist, life coach, or mental health professional. Any habits, strategies, or suggestions offered should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or counseling advice. Results vary — small steps look different for everyone. You are solely responsible for any decisions or actions you take based on this content.
