Use What You Have (For Now): A Softer Approach to Starting Before You’re Ready
Yesterday I found myself spiralling into overwhelm trying to choose the right email platform for my business.
The truth is - I already have one.
It works. It’s fine. But lately it’s felt increasingly frustrating - the pricing structure that seems to punish you for growing your audience, the slow and time-consuming customer support, the constant sense that you’re working around the platform instead of with it.
I spent hours trying to figure it out. Clicking between tabs. Comparing plans. Overanalyzing reviews. Trying to force a decision. And by the end of the day, I was completely drained - more confused than when I started.
The clarity didn’t come yesterday.
It came today - on my morning sunrise walk, when my mind was finally quiet enough to hear it.
👉 I don’t need to have the perfect solution right now.
👉 I can simply use what I already have.
And that’s what I want to offer you - the clarity I earned the long way, so you don’t have to spend hours in frustration like I did.
Because what you already have? It’s been working.
It’s not perfect, but it’s enough.
The Hidden Gift Inside Overwhelm
Overwhelm isn’t the enemy. It’s information.
It’s the part of you that cares - the part that wants to do it well, get it right, make things better.
But sometimes, that part of you forgets that clarity doesn’t come from more thinking.
It comes from doing - from using what’s in front of you and noticing what does (and doesn’t) feel aligned.
You don’t have to know the final answer before you take the first step. You just need to use what’s already in your hands.
So instead of hunting for the “perfect” email platform, I decided to stick with what’s here. To pay attention to what feels clunky, confusing, or frustrating - not as proof that I’m behind, but as clues that show me what I actually want and need.
The Truth (and the Freedom) in Starting Simple
If you don’t have an email platform yet, it doesn’t mean you can’t start connecting.
You can literally send your first few emails straight from Gmail or Outlook.
When you do find a platform that fits, you can import those names later. Manually if you need to.
Because there’s always a workaround. Always.
Starting small doesn’t mean you’re thinking small. It means you’re moving forward - with clarity, calm, and self-trust.
How to Apply This Practically
If you’re sitting in that same space of “I don’t know what’s next,” here’s how to shift from stuck to clear - gently, without pressure or perfection.
1️⃣ Use what you’ve got.
Before you research new tools or systems, ask yourself:
What’s already working well enough right now?
Where am I making this harder than it needs to be?
Could I make small tweaks (labels, templates, shortcuts) before switching completely?
2️⃣ Observe the friction.
Use your current setup for a week or two with awareness. Notice where you feel:
Frustrated (something’s clunky or unclear)
Drained (too many steps or decisions)
Disconnected (it doesn’t feel intuitive or aligned)
These are data points, not failures. They’re guiding you toward what you actually want.
3️⃣ Create your “Ideal Experience” list.
Instead of looking for a tool, look for how you want to feel using it.
Ask yourself:
What would make this process feel easy and enjoyable?
What level of automation or support would simplify my day?
How do I want this tool to fit into my flow, not force me into someone else’s?
4️⃣ Trust that the right fit will reveal itself.
Once you know what you want (and what you don’t), the decision becomes obvious - sometimes almost effortless.
You won’t have to force clarity; it’ll meet you where you are.
A Gentle Reminder
You don’t need the perfect tool. You don’t need the perfect timing. You just need to start - with what you’ve got.
Clarity grows through action. Confidence grows through use. And the path unfolds as you walk it.
Here’s to doing business your way - one grounded, calm and connected decision at a time.
Hey, I’m Catherine!
I’m here for the women doing business differently -
building something meaningful and beautiful without burning out.
Here, you’ll find simple systems, soulful structure and a softer way to scale.
