Never Say Never: One Day You Just Might Surprise Yourself

It seems like all the things I thought I would never do because I wouldn’t like them or wouldn’t be good at them have become the things that are saving me. That gives me pause to ask: How often do we think we know what we need but we are dead wrong? Or maybe you even say the way you are currently living isn’t that bad because you think it would be worse on the other side. But take a second to look back on the things you took a risk on and tried that you didn’t think you would like. Maybe it was learning to ride a bike or eating an exotic food. I think we’ve all done it at some point. We thought we knew ourselves but ended up surprised.

Now let’s talk about the big things like who you fall in love with, where you work, or how you live your life. Where are you closing yourself off to possibilities?

For me it was in my work life. I always said I would never work in a middle school. My love was little children and I would work with high schoolers and adults before I would ever work with hormonal preteens. I felt like I couldn’t handle them, relate to them, or have the patience for them. But here I am now, loving that transitional phase of life when middle-schoolers are discovering and building their identities and gifts. And how nice it is to have students old enough to have deep discussions and do basic tasks without help or crying!

I also said that I would never want to work at a hospital. I have always had a strong gag reflex and would react if I saw someone else getting sick. I hide my eyes from gore. I am offended by strong odors. There are just so many physical conditions that I thought would to disgust me, let alone the sadness, anger, and anxiety around those who are suffering. I always believed schools would bring me joy because I love learning and hospitals would bring me anxiety because I hate pain and death. Yet, it turned out to be the opposite. Schools have brought me anxiety and my current work at the hospital has brought only joy and purpose. I am not disgusted, but rather fulfilled by my work in the hospital.

Let this blog post be a reminder to you to take the leap, remain open to new possibilities, and remember that you always have more to discover about yourself. No matter what phase of life you are in, keep stretching and growing. The very thing that you need might be just around the corner where you would least expect it.

About the Author: Julie Glaser is a healer who creates sacred spaces for people to share, release, and grow. She’s in the habit of being in awe and wonder and writes to share her own experiences and learnings with other inquisitive souls in the process of transforming.