Let’s be clear from the start. I’m not talking about those random ideas that flash in your mind once in a while (the ones that don’t really change your life in any meaningful way). Those things can wait. And yes, you can think of the “right time” for them.

But the thing that brought you here today? It’s not random. It’s not casual. It’s not just a “mood”. It’s something important. Something you care about, something your heart keeps returning to, something you’re quietly craving… and something you keep holding yourself back from.

This entire piece is about that thing!

FIRST Let’s figure out if this “something” is truly your passion or just noise

Ask yourself these questions:

Has this thought stayed with you for months, maybe even years? Do you find yourself imagining it again and again, even on ordinary days? Do you think about it while journaling, showering, or lying down at night? Do you feel a little excitement when you picture yourself doing it? Does ignoring it make you restless or disappointed in yourself? Do you secretly hope life gives you the chance to pursue it someday? And most importantly, would you feel proud of yourself if you started?

If your answer is “yes” to most of these, then this isn’t a passing thought. It’s not a hobby.

This is your passion. And this might be something you genuinely want for your life. Keep that thing in your mind as you read further because everything next is for that.

Now comes the harder question: If you want it so badly… why haven’t you started yet?

If your reason is finances, and you’re actively working towards it by saving, planning, building stability, then this might not be an excuse. This is preparation. And preparation is a part of the journey.

But if your reason is something like: “I don’t feel ready”, “What if I fail?”, “What will people say?”, “What if I’m not good enough yet?”, “What if it doesn’t work out exactly how I imagine?”, then beautiful, that’s not a reason. That’s an excuse you’re giving yourself and you know it.

Most of the time, our excuses are nothing but fear wearing different clothes. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear of starting small. Fear of not being perfect. Fear of disappointing yourself. Fear of being seen trying. And let me tell you something- every strong woman you admire is scared too. The art is not to wait for fear to disappear. The art is to take the risk (with the fear still living inside you).

And that’s where your courage begins.

“Right time”? How many years do you think you have?

Asking you something very real. How many years do you think are left in your life? Give me a number. Try.

You can’t, right? Because none of us know. Not you. Not me. Not anyone. So what exactly are you waiting for? A day you cannot predict? A moment that may never arrive? A future version of yourself who magically feels fearless?

The truth is, the “right time” is not coming. And the fear will not disappear on its own. If you want something and it’s been living in your heart this long, you need to understand that the only right moment is now.

Something That Shaped My Thinking

Let me start by sharing something small from my life that might help me explain this better.

When I was in law school, I realised very early that the only real way to gain practical knowledge was through internships. But before I even applied, almost everyone told me the same thing: “Don’t intern before third year. You won’t understand anything.” And honestly, it was discouraging. Until one senior, someone whose advice I still cherish, told me, “You will understand once you start.” That sentence alone gave me the courage to try.

But even then, another friend added, “It’s not easy to get internships. You need strong connections. Otherwise you’ll only end up carrying your senior’s briefcases. Build contacts first, then apply.” Again, demotivating. But something in me still wanted to take a chance. So I did.

I wrote so many cold emails, applied everywhere I could… and slowly, some places did respond. And that was enough. I started early. And because of that, by the time I reached my final year, I cannot express how prepared I felt. I made mistakes, learned from them, explored different work cultures, and connected with people I would have never met had I waited for the “right time”. Not waiting for the right time turned out to be one of the best decisions I made.

The same thing happened with moot court and mediation competitions. So many juniors ask me today, “When is the right time to start? Are we too late? Shouldn’t we have begun earlier?” And I always tell them the same thing- Start today!

I remember delaying my participation in such competitions for almost a year. I told myself that they wouldn’t add much to my CV, that I didn’t have time etc. But deep down, it was the “fear”. Fear of judgement. Fear that everyone was better than me. That they thought better, spoke better, performed better. But I soon realised that this fear was going to keep me behind if I didn’t act.

People again warned me, “You need proper training first. Don’t jump in without learning.” But by then, I had already seen what waiting does, it freezes you. And I didn’t want to freeze. So I participated anyway. I stumbled, panicked on some days, doubted myself on others, but I learned. And eventually, I even won some during the later years of law school. Not because I was naturally brilliant, but because I learned in the process of doing.

These experiences taught me something very deeply: We don’t start because we are ready.

We become ready because we start.

The BB Journal! My biggest example of waiting for “no reason”

This platform, this space- it came into my mind when I was in my fourth year of law school. I remember feeling so connected to the idea. I knew I wanted it. I knew it was meant for me. But I didn’t start. I waited. Then waited some more. Then waited even more. At first, it was finances. But once that got sorted, my mind created new excuses: “What if I can’t give enough time?”, “What if it doesn’t turn out how I want it to?”, “What if I’m not consistent?”, “What if… what if… what if…”

Excuses. All excuses. One morning, I asked myself something that shook me: “How many years do I think I have? Do I even know?” The answer was silence. And that silence made me start. No, everything is still not perfect. But it feels right. It feels aligned. It feels like home. Every morning, the one hour I spend writing for this platform brings me more peace than anything else.

Imagine if I waited another year. Another five. Or forever. I would’ve lost something meant for me.

Women who didn’t wait and changed their entire lives

One example I always remember is Priyanka Khimani. She’s a big name in the entertainment law industry, and someone I admire deeply. She once said in an interview that when she thought of starting her law firm, just a couple of years after law school, people told her she was too young, too inexperienced, too early. But she trusted herself. She didn’t wait. She began.

Today, her firm stands as one of the leading names in the entertainment industry in India. Imagine if she waited. Imagine if she wanted to “feel ready first.”

The Truth

If something keeps coming back to you…if it lives in your mind more than you admit…if you feel guilty for not starting…if you imagine a better version of yourself doing it…then this is not about timing. It’s about fear. And fear doesn’t deserve to run your life.

Start now. Start confused. Start scared. Start unsure. Start imperfect. But, just start. Because the time you think you have is not guaranteed. And the dream you’re delaying is quietly losing its strength.

You deserve more. You deserve to begin. And the moment you do, you will finally realize that the right time was never somewhere in the future. It was this moment. Right now!

With love, always,

Purva Gandhi

Founder, The BB Journal