Life is a HIghway



Is there anything that gives you a sense of trepidation?

Like maybe public speaking?

For me, I happen to like public speaking and speaking up at meetings.

The thing I’m not fond of is highway driving.

Until recently I couldn’t tell you why I didn’t like highway driving.

When I was a job seeker, I’d only apply to jobs where the commute did not require highway driving.

Ironically my new job required me to do some highway driving!  

For two weeks leading up to the day, I made an effort to not think about it, although I looked on the map to make sure I knew where I was going.

The day arrived to go on the highway. 

I left the house at 7:00 a.m. so that I would be driving in daylight. I arrived in plenty of time, and arrived at my destination in an hour and 10 minutes.   

I made an effort to keep up with the traffic flow and I thought I did a good job. Sometimes I felt myself tense up while driving and I made an effort to relax.

Nothing happened while I was driving on the highway.

But I realized a couple of things.

The reason I don’t like highway driving is that you have to drive fast just so that you can keep up with the traffic flow.  Speed is just not my style. I’ll go on the highway only if I really have to.

At my destination I had a conversation with someone. I discovered something about myself. I’m really good at identifying what another person’s passions are in terms of their life work. It’s a matter of listening, picking up on body language and asking questions. I’d make a good coach some day!  

What’s the moral?

It’s good to stretch your comfort zone, and if it makes sense, to just go ahead and do it. Stretching beyond your comfort zone may open up possibilities for you.

I gave highway driving another try (after a long dormant period), and I can say that it’s something that I still don’t like to do, but I’ll relent if it’s necessary.   

I think this is a perfect time to collaborate.

You don’t like public speaking?

How about if I do the public speaking and I’ll hitch a ride with you!    




Originally Published on LinkedIn:  November 25, 2016
Image Credit:  Pixabay


  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Comfort Zone

Image
Yesterday I did something that was out of the ordinary for me.   I signed up for an 8 week improv class with the  Bad Dog Theatre Company . The idea for attending such a class was suggested to me when I attended  DisruptHRToronto  (a networking event) where I heard a speaker named Lori Pearlstein on December 1, 2016. Ms. Pearlstein owns a company called  Playworks .  Ms. Pearlstein’s company provides improv classes to corporate clients and helps people to improve their public speaking, team building and brainstorming skills. I thought to myself that improv is something that I would like to try. As is usual with me, I filed the suggestion away in my head perhaps to re-visit in the future. I was talking to a friend of mine and we were talking about food preferences. He noted that I could be more adventurous when it came to food. Point well-taken.    I wrote a LinkedIn post called “ Ham .”...
Read more

Human Nature

Image
Yesterday (June 19th) was very hot and humid in Toronto, and Environment Canada issued a heat alert. Today promises to be another hot and humid day with the humidex expected to rise to 40 degrees Celsius. When it’s hot in Toronto, we wish for winter and cooler weather; and when it’s winter, we wish for summer and warmer weather.  I suppose this wishful thinking of thinking the grass is always greener somewhere else is a part of human nature. When we’re working, we think wouldn’t it be nice if we had more leisure time, and when you’re in transition (like me), you think wouldn’t it be nice if we were working? When I was working at Combined Insurance, that’s all I thought about was work.  Never thought about stopping and reflecting on things.  In transition I’ve seen the other side (the leisure side), and I know that when I find a job, that I’d want more of a balance between working hard and pursuing leisure activities (maybe going to see a Toronto Bl...
Read more

Positivity...Let me count the ways

Image
In a previous post “ Always On My Mind ” I mentioned to job seekers to “stay hopeful and positive.” I would like to expand on how exactly job seekers (or anyone else for that matter) can “stay positive.” First I’m reminded of a  FISH! Philosophy  tenet of “Choose Your Attitude.” We can choose to have a positive attitude in a number of ways. Be nice to yourself   We can’t always feel positive (or up or cheery) all of the time. Sometimes we feel down.  I suggest that we accept that we feel down at this moment and that this feeling won’t last forever. We can think to ourselves that things will feel brighter tomorrow. Give yourself permission to feel down at this moment and take comfort that tomorrow is another day.  We can do some basic things to take care of ourselves: get enough rest, drink lots of water, eat healthy, get some exercise, etc. Other than these things, we can participate in activities that...
Read more