Get in a 60% shot. Then go for your 100%.

You don't need to ace anything the first time. Nor the second, nor the third.

I am a big proponent of just showing up and seeing what happens. At the same time, I have a strong natural tendency to overthink and overplan.

How do I reconcile these?

I allow myself to do something at a "failure" performance level. Then, once I collect more information, I can try again for a "passing" grade—if I want to.

Sometimes, I apply this mindset to things that exist completely outside the bounds of "success" or "failure." Regardless, it helps me break free from a vicious, unnecessarily prolonged cycle of overplanning or overoptimizing.

My first visit to Esalen got me thinking about this. When I was planning the trip, I considered so many options: Do I book a room to myself (expensive)? Share a room (uncomfortable?)? Camp nearby (cheaper but inconvenient)? I cycled through these options endlessly, trying to determine the most "optimal" choice.

Funny enough, just picking an option and coming here cleared up so much for me. No longer was I stuck in a loop of infinite considerations—what if this, what if that, oh, but what about this?

Now, I have a knowing of this place, captured in my lived experience rather than in a theoretical playbook. And experience is much easier for the human mind to understand than prescription. Now, I know exactly how I want to experience Esalen the next time I come.

If you find yourself caught in a loop or hesitating on the edge of action, here’s my invitation: take the leap to get a 60%. It's okay if you get a D-. You showed up. And the next time the opportunity arises, you will know exactly what you need to do.