Why we must embrace the joy of trying
We live in a culture obsessed with outcomes. Success stories are told in numbers: promotions gained, houses bought, followers counted, awards collected. Yet behind each of those polished results sits something much quieter, much more ordinary, and arguably much more important, the simple act of trying.
When I wrote Another Door Opens, one of the core steps I wanted to explore was “Try.” Not “Achieve,” not “Succeed,” but try. Because so often we dont allow ourselves to even try, and when we do we berate ourselves for the none achievements. But there’s a quiet joy in putting one foot forward, in testing an idea, in giving something a go, even when we don’t know what will come of it.
Process over outcome
So often, we let the end goal dominate. We picture the finish line: the business launched, the book published, the job landed. And in that fixation, we risk missing the richness of the process. Trying asks us to stay with the moment. To notice the energy of beginning, the small wins, the lessons tucked inside every attempt.
When we only measure by results, we shrink our own experience. But when we measure by effort, by courage, by the willingness to take a step, we start to see progress in places we might otherwise have overlooked.
Small steps matter
Trying is not about grand gestures. It’s rarely about leaping fully formed into something new. It’s more about the smallest of actions, sending the email, making the call, opening the notebook, showing up at the meeting, how you are everyday.
These are not glamorous moments, but they are the building blocks of change. And when we start to celebrate these tiny steps, life opens up. We realise that progress is not linear, but every attempt, shapes us.
The joy of trying is that it keeps us moving without overwhelming us. One step today, another tomorrow. Over time, those small movements gather momentum.
The freedom of letting go
The hardest truth, and also the most liberating, is that we can’t control outcomes. We can influence, we can prepare, we can give our very best, but the final result is never really fully ours to dictate. This can feel daunting, but it also offers relief. If the outcome is not in our hands, then our responsibility is simple: to give ourselves the best chance possible. To try with intention, to show up with care, to keep leaning forward.
When we shift our focus from “I must succeed” to “I will try,” we free ourselves from perfectionism. We make room for learning. We invite in curiosity.
Finding joy in the attempt
Think of the child learning to ride a bike. Their joy isn’t reserved only for the moment they cycle away unaided. The laughter, the wobbling, the scraped knees, all of it is part of the experience. And in many ways, it’s the part that matters most.
As adults, we forget this. We assume joy is only permitted when things go well. But what if joy is also in the effort itself? What if joy is in noticing we had the courage to begin, regardless of how it ends?
Celebrating along the way
Trying is not just about endurance. It’s also about celebration. Too often, we save celebration for the end, the deal closed, the project finished, the mountain climbed. But we can learn to celebrate along the way: the courage to start, the persistence to keep going, the resilience to begin again after a stumble.
These micro-celebrations remind us that life is not a straight line of achievements, but a series of attempts, each one valuable in its own right.
The invitation to try
The joy of trying, then, is not a consolation prize. It is the work itself. It’s what keeps doors opening, what makes change possible, what helps us grow into ourselves.
Outcomes will come and go. Some will match our hopes; others will not. But the act of trying, of showing up for ourselves, of taking one more step, is where life truly happens.
So the invitation is simple: try. Not for the guarantee of success, but for the joy of the attempt. That, in the end, is enough.