I had minor eye surgery this week. I had the same surgery in July. Back then, the doctor explained to me what he would be doing and how he would be inserting a saline water bubble into my eye to aid with healing. This would dissipate naturally within a week. I heard him, I knew what he was saying, but wow – you have no idea what it is like to have a water bubble in your eye until it happens! It’s like seeing the normal world – but you are underwater.
This time? It was no big deal. It was the difference between KNOWING and UNDERSTANDING.
There are so many times in life when you are to face something you’ve never experienced before. And invariably, until you actually experience it, you have no idea how it will be. It’s a little like having a baby: you could have babysit, read and memorized “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”, had younger siblings you cared for…but once that baby is here and yours to take care of, it’s a whole other story!
So how do you prepare yourself for new experiences, be they personal or professional? Here are some DOs and DON’Ts to keep in mind:
- Don’t think you understand what it will be like before you actually experience it. You don’t/can’t/won’t.
- Don’t catastrophize. There are a million ways something could go wrong – maybe. Why put your focus on them?
- Don’t avoid new situations based on #1 or #2. Life is an adventure – try it out!
And…
- DO talk to professionals and those who have experienced what you are about to do. Learn from them. Ask questions – a LOT of them!
- DO keep an open mind. Know that you don’t know what you don’t know.
- DO learn from your experiences. Apply your learnings for your next adventure and pass on your knowledge.
- DO be kind to yourself. Doing something new can be scary. And nerve-wracking. You may make mistakes and missteps. This is all part of the process. No one does everything perfectly the first time.
- DO acknowledge your successes. Just trying something new is a huge win. Give yourself the credit you deserve!
Just knowing what I know now, based on my experiences, and now understanding a lot more, has helped me immensely in life. Acknowledging the difference between understanding and knowing has made all the difference.
