Is the glass half full or half empty? I have gotten more positive as I’ve gotten older especially recently with my whole cancer experience but admittedly at times, I still have a half empty outlook.
I realize that’s how I’ve been about my return to work. The adjustment back is hard, a lot harder than I thought. Throw in adjustment to a new job and it’s that much harder.
But I thought of something from years ago and how when I changed my outlook or approach it made a big difference.
I was lucky enough to compete at the NCAA Division III XC Championship twice, once my sophomore year then again my senior year at TCNJ. The first time I went I was overwhelmed by the whole experience. I let the big stage get to me. The whole time I was like omg I’m at nationals. This is a big deal. There’s so many good runners. There’s so many people. I have to run well to show I belong here. And guess what I did not run well. I was very tight and not happy with my performance at all.
Two years later when I got to go back, I had a completely different outlook and what a difference. I approached it as enjoy this opportunity. You made it back and just enjoy the big stage, the crowds, the opportunity to compete. I remember warming up on the course and seeing the big NCAA logo at the start of the course and thinking to myself you had a great season, you belong here. Go out and have one last good race.
And guess what, I ran well. Very well. At a big meet like this each runner is separated by about a second not much more and I was 13 places or 13 seconds away from being an All-American. I would have loved to gotten that honor but I was pleased with how I did. I didn’t run upright, I embraced the experience and appreciated it and told myself I belong with some of the best runners here.
Now I thought of this about my return to work. I’ve been viewing it as half empty, focusing on what I lost and who took my position rather than seeing the new opportunity as half full. This is a far less stressful position that will allow me to do a lot of work from home. It’s less physical as well. With all I’ve been through this past year and one remaining surgery for reconstruction, this is a better fit for me at this time. It’s a chance to grow and take this new position where I want it to go.
If I can think of my final xc race at Nationals and how my positive outlook helped me perform much better than my nervous and worried outlook I can do the same with my outlook for this new position. It’s a new opportunity with a lot of flexibility that is less stressful which after dealing with cancer for a year is exactly what I need.
It’s time to see the glass as half full even if I want to see it as half empty. It’s time to embrace and appreciate the new opportunity and see where it goes much like I did my second time at Nationals many years ago.
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