The author's point with number 1 was that we all make excuses for ourselves. We give ourselves reasons to not break out of comfort zone, to be satisfied with the status quo and not challenge it. We believe we are capable of less than we are.
If I'm being really honest with myself this can be a major issue for me. "I have asthma I can't run a 10k." "I'm not smart enough for THAT career" and so on... The fact of the matter is I don't really know whether I can do these things or not because I have never ever tried. I need to start trusting in myself that I have greater potential and reach out for more.
The second step mentioned is "Be Happy Now." I've written about this idea before... As people we often are waiting for our next step to happen before we allow ourselves to fully enjoy where we are.
I think I'm getting a little better about this. Dating casually this summer was part of that for me. I decided to be happy with where I was right then and not worry about the future too much. I think the bigger issue for me comes in my professional life. I mean, I'm not going to lie, I'm not working my dream job right now. BUT, I've actually been so much happier the past three weeks than I remember being in the past at my other jobs. I've definitely been more consistently happy. I need to let go, just a little bit, of the idea that I'm not doing what I'm supposed to be doing, because maybe I am.
This school year I am teaching four college research and writing classes at a career college in the late afternoons and evenings and substitute teaching for a local school district during the day. I have never taught adults before. I had never even taught college. So far it's been pretty good! My classes are small, the maturity is higher (for the most part) and I feel like the students are really responding to me. When I see students in the hallway outside of class they greet me, they ask how my day or weekend was, and they actually seem genuinely interested. My students have commented to me that I am "fun," that they can tell I "love" teaching. They have even, wait for it, THANKED me for helping them. I feel appreciated and respected (despite being young enough to be their child in some cases).
By the same token I am having a great time substitute teaching. I've done one day at an elementary school and the rest have been at the high school which is ideal. I'm getting to use my brain whether it's for English or re-learning Algebra, or trying to recall Spanish vocabulary words from well over a decade ago. There is almost no stress. I grade papers from my night classes during my off periods and go home without extra work at the end of the day. Even these students are starting to recognize me and say "hello" in the halls. Today I saw a former student that frankly, often butted heads with me. He was working at the school and we had a really nice, mature, conversation. He showed an interest in what I'd been doing for the past several years and updated me quickly on his life. It felt good.
I guess my point is this... I'm in a good place. I may not technically have a full time job (sure wish I had benefits!) but I do have two jobs that are, most weeks, giving me a 40 hr load and, more importantly, are FULFILLING me. So I choose to be happy with where I am and to stay happy. It's time I refocused again and paid attention to all the good in my life because it so outweighs the bad.
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