The other day, I took the shuttle to Camden for the first time.
It doesn't seem like the biggest revelation, but as someone who has never really traveled alone or been able to navigate, making that commute was a big deal. I had started a new volunteering position in a new location and, at the end of my interview and tour, I had some time to myself after missing the 11:45 A.M. shuttle.
So, I looked around and discovered a Barnes and Noble and, more importantly, something called "Pasta Chips".
The point of this story wasn't that I volunteer, or that I tried "Pasta Chips", but that I recognized that I stepped out of my comfort zone and decided to take time to myself to reward that.
I have found that a lot of people use their limitations as excuses. Just because you've never flown alone on a plane, doesn't mean you couldn't. Just because you're afraid of needles, doesn't mean you should avoid them for the rest of your life. Just because you aren't comfortable speaking in public, doesn't mean it isn't important.
With my increased independence and a new volunteering position, I am getting closer to becoming the person I want to be, in spite of the person I am right now. I think some of us don't realize that we aren't born exactly who we are supposed to be; we are born with everything we need to get there.
Unfortunately, for some of us, that means putting in the effort to not only make the changes but to recognize which personal flaws need work. The recognition of faults and the intention to work on them is what growing up is about. As children, we commonly recognize our flaws and choose to ignore them, or we aren't aware enough to recognize them in the first place.
My advice to you would be to make the decision to face the flaws you already know you have and to make an effort to identify other areas of improvement.
It can be discouraging to put in the work to change and push through our own limitations because it's hard, and it may seem like you're the only one struggling. But some people are better at hiding it than others. On the surface, I seem like an independent individual who faces a few struggles and is able to power through high-stress situations with ease.
The truth is that I am someone who is much more comfortable staying in because I don't like to go out on my own. I am afraid of needles and singing in public and, sometimes, squirrels make me nervous.
When I have to do things I don't really want to do, I find a way to reward myself afterward. No, I'm not talking about giving yourself a three-day break after creating a document to write your essay on. I'm talking about accomplishing a personal milestone and recognizing it.
If you're beating yourself up to achieve a long-term goal but feel defeated because you haven't achieved it yet, consider setting smaller goals along the way. As you achieve those, treat yourself to some "Pasta Chips", or whatever else floats your boat.
In the beginning, you'll be improving because of the reward at the end. But one day, you'll continue to improve because of the journey along the way.
