Getting to Know You - Getting to Know All About You!

[Carol Ebert]

I discovered a lot of things about myself when I entered the retirement zone and I'm not done discovering more. Here are some "awakenings" I've had that have allowed me to get to know and appreciate the real me better.

Positives that REFLECT MY TRUE SELF

I still have a strong passion for wellness and it keeps me moving forward

I'm not done yet and have a lot more left to give

I don't see an end in sight for my wellness work because it fulfills me intellectually and spiritually

I am capable of learning new stuff, even if it isn't easy and fun, because it propels me forward

I recognize there are still a lot of people who need my talents and services - I just have to find them

I am better working solo because I have less stress, am more creative, can call the shots and thrive on not being told what to do

I have my own wellness business now and never thought that would be positive

I love having the freedom of creating my own business

I'm so glad I didn't give up on myself and pursued a second round of living with purpose and passion

Negatives that CHALLENGE MY TRUE SELF

I find difficulty staying focused and on task because working from home has a lot of distractions

I have to force myself to get out of the house and meet people or I get too isolated

I have to find my own clients in order to generate income and find that challenging because it's all up to me

I find marketing myself and my services is harder than I expected

I'm in charge of all the tedious left brained activities necessary to run a business - and it holds me back from doing what I love - creating, planning, teaching

I do realize now that MY TRUE SELF is challenged by these negatives (I don't want to do them!) but I also realize I can turn them into positives once I learn how to manage them, so it's all good. Let the learning curve continue!

So what about you? Are you being your true self, or has it yet to be revealed? Remember how you were when you first became a nurse? Your beliefs, values, thoughts, feelings, passions, interests, view of you. How do they compare to where you are today? Same, or different? This is worth exploring because I know I am a very different person now than 40 years ago and I suspect some things have changed for you too.

Complete this exercise about yourself and reflect on the findings:

[TABLE]

[TR]

[TD][/TD]

[TD]Then[/TD]

[TD]Now[/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Beliefs[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Values[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Thoughts[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Feelings[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Passions[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]Interests[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[TR]

[TD]View of yourself[/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[TD][/TD]

[/TR]

[/TABLE]

Any revelations? How much have you changed over the years - or stayed the same? And are you expressing your TRUE SELF in everything you do or are you holding back? Remember this is the time in your life to be all you can be and do all you can do. Last chance. Don't blow it by not KNOWING WHO YOU ARE - TRULY!

Here are 3 questions to consider that will give you a glimpse of who you truly are.

1. How are you when no one is looking?
   
2. What or who would you be if you knew you could not fail?
   
3. If money wasn't important, how would you live your life differently?
   

Thanks for taking the time for some deep insightful exploration. Your job now is to create a life that reflects who you truly are and live it to its fullest. And if you are already doing that - CONGRATULATIONS!

Please share so we can all learn from your life experiences.

[Carol Ebert, MSN, RN]

Great that you are looking ahead. I never did that so it felt like having the rug pulled out from under me. But I did see it as a challenge instead of something negative and all worked out well. Attitude is everything!