Sucking at Something Is the First Step to Being Sorta Good at Something

"Sucking at something is the first step to being sorta good at something."
— Jake the Dog, Adventure Time

Jake is wise when it comes to knowing about how we truly grow, and my husband will frequently quote him when my own boys want to give up.

In Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), there’s a skill called Building Mastery. It's part of the ABC PLEASE skills, which help reduce emotional vulnerability. Building Mastery is about doing things that help you feel competent, capable, and proud — even if you’re not perfect at them yet.

Why “Sucking” Is Actually a Good Thing

When we first try something new — whether it’s speaking up in class, going to the gym, or drawing a comic strip — we usually aren’t very good at it. That’s normal. That’s learning.

But here's the magic:
The more you show up and keep practicing, the better you get. You go from sorta good, to pretty good, to actually great.

This is exactly what Building Mastery is about — intentionally doing something just a little bit challenging every day so you can build confidence and strength over time.

Building Mastery the DBT Way

Here’s how you can practice it:

• Choose a daily activity that’s meaningful to you and pushes you slightly out of your comfort zone.

• It shouldn’t be so hard that you feel discouraged. Aim for “just hard enough.”

• If it doesn’t go well, don’t quit — adjust. Take a smaller step and try again.

• Celebrate your efforts, not just the outcome. Growth happens in the showing up.

Reflect: What’s Your “Sorta Good” Journey?

• What’s something you’ve always wanted to be better at?

• Are you willing to “suck at it” for a while in order to grow?

You don’t have to be perfect to start. You just have to start.

Final Tip

Building Mastery isn’t about being the best — it’s about becoming better. Every time you practice, you're rewiring your brain to believe: “I can handle hard things.”

And that’s a superpower worth building.

By Dr Michelle Beukes-King