It's been, ohhh, about 4 months since I've written anything here...This is what I have to say today:
Fear has stopped me from doing a lot of things in my life.
Fear has stopped me from deciding on a career path.
Fear has stopped me from taking the first step of a career path.
Mostly what I fear is failing. I am competitive and afraid of failure. I am not the competitive type that naturally does whatever it takes to succeed. I am the type that fears failure, therefore avoids it. But by fearing failure I have failed myself.
This has basically gotten me nowhere. Yes, I have a good job with great hours that pays a livable wage...and I'm very grateful for it after not having been employed for a looong time due to the economy, like a lot of Americans. But that's a post for a different day. What I mean is that while I am grateful for everything I do have, it is not where I want to be in life. Tyrus and I work very hard, as do most people, for what we have, but we want more. We want successful and fulfilling careers, new(er) car(s) and a modern dwelling. We want to be able to afford vacations out of the Pacific Northwest! We love it, but Europe has been calling our names for years! We want the future!
What all of this boils down to in my mind is this: I am tired of fearing that I will fail. I know that I am intelligent. I know I am capable of many great things. I just have to do what it is I want to do and not look back.
Remember that great TV show, ER, on NBC Thursdays @ 10? I used to watch that show every week for years with my mom. That show along with great stories from my mom and others made me want to be a nurse. As long as I can remember I have wanted to be a nurse.
I know, I know...I change my career path every two weeks. Again, fear plays a part. My greatest fear of being a nurse is NOT needles and blood. Blood has never bothered me and I recently got over my fear of needles when I received a TDap vaccine and had blood drawn. No, my greatest fear of being a nurse is making one simple mistake with a patient which results in injury or DEATH. That really scares me. Having someones life in my hands scares me. If something happens to a patient because of human error, MY error, how can I possibly live with that?! This fear had completely stopped me altogether from pursuing a nursing career. And here I am today.
I realize I have gone back and forth a thousand times about what career I want to have. I'm sure this has been annoying. It has certainly been annoying to me. I have many, many interests and I know I could be successful at any of them.
After having a blindingly obvious epiphany today, I have decide, once and for freaking all, I would really love to be a nurse. Deep down under all that fear and illogical thinking (it is true that someone who is highly logical can be very illogical) I have never stopped wanting to be a nurse. Every career path I have thought about, I have asked myself, "Does this give me the ability to help someone?" and "Will I find it fulfilling?" Some yes, some no. I think the answers to this one are obvious.
My epiphany sort of went something like this:
"You aren't going to get anywhere in life if you don't step outside your comfort zone and challenge yourself."
True.
"You want to be a mother and would do your best to take care of your child. If you know you are able to successful raise a child, you are able to take care of others."
Well, that's a good point.
"You have to stop being afraid of failure. Think of all the people you know who haven't tried because they're afraid or they have no goals. You don't want to be them."
Obviously.
And finally, "Just freaking do it!"
So I did.
I took the first step in the right direction by applying to TCC today. When I am admitted I will then take Step 2. I think that to avoid getting overwhelmed or risking fear I will just continue to take it one step at a time.
I would really love to thank one of my dearest and oldest friends, who is really more of a sister, Adrienne Goldey. It was her decision to become a nurse that, for the last few months, has had me again thinking of going into nursing. So Adrienne...THANK YOU!!!
Regardless if any of you believe I will follow through, I feel very happy and humbled by my epiphany and I plan to see this goal through.
Heck yes, girl! GO FOR IT! You don't have to be devoid of fear to be brave and do something courageous! It maybe challenging, you may not be perfect at first, but you will get there! Don't be afraid of failure. Failure is not an end, it helps you grow and hone your skills, and return twice as strong. Just take that one step at a time, it's all anyone can do in this life really. Bravery is picking up those feet and going forward no matter what fears your mind is throwing at you. I know you can do it, and I know you would make an excellent nurse! It would also be awesome to have someone who was going through the same thing at the same time. We'll be nursing buddies LOL.
ReplyDeleteI just read this post - I did not go on the internet that much in May... and this is such a wonderful step to ask yourself those questions, and find answers that make you move on. Having a fulfilling, meaningful career is sooo important. Such a big part of our life is spent on working. I found myself in shoes very similar to yours, in a job I was grateful for but did not fulfill me. Fear had been such a big part of my decision process. Then I imagined myself at an old age, looking back at my life, and at the many things I did not allow myself to do because I was scared - and the regrets that would then fill my heart. So I did it, went to seminary in France, then in the US, then discovered the chaplain track and now am thinking of becoming a chaplain supervisor.... it took years but the journey was so worth it! You are going to be a wonderful Nurse - you are compassionate and sweet, this cannot be taught. All the rest you can learn. I am so excited for you!
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