Full Transcript for Nurses Can Do Hard Things: Why Challenging Yourself Changes Everything

00:05:47.319 --> 00:06:05.159 So I feel like this would be a great additional episode if you are in need of motivation or remembering why you've started on this nursing journey, because becoming a nurse is definitely a very, very hard, big accomplishment. 00:06:05.479 --> 00:06:09.719 I do think that there's some pretty interesting science behind doing hard things. 00:06:09.879 --> 00:06:14.039 And I think it's especially relevant to nursing because think about it, nursing school is hard. 00:06:14.279 --> 00:06:16.199 Clinical rotations are hard. 00:06:16.359 --> 00:06:18.359 The NCLEX is hard. 00:06:18.519 --> 00:06:32.759 Your first code, your first year as a nurse, switching specialties, becoming a charge nurse, stepping into leadership or pursuing an entirely different specialty or career path within nursing, or if you left nursing and do something else, that's all really hard. 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:34.279 Those are hard things. 00:06:34.519 --> 00:06:38.279 And they're also some of the experience that shape who we become. 00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:42.519 But I want to make one more important distinction before we get into science. 00:06:42.759 --> 00:06:54.919 It's not simply doing hard things that make us stronger, it's experiencing a challenge that's manageable, learning how to navigate it, and coming out of the experience with a greater understanding of what we're capable of. 00:06:55.159 --> 00:06:59.799 Because chronic overwhelming stress, well, that can actually have the opposite effect. 00:06:59.959 --> 00:07:06.839 So I just want to make it clear here that I am not suggesting that we all need to suffer more or push ourselves to the point of burnout. 00:07:07.159 --> 00:07:08.519 Absolutely not. 00:07:08.919 --> 00:07:12.199 I'm talking about choosing challenges that help us grow. 00:07:12.439 --> 00:07:25.479 And while my husband's currently freezing his butt off on a 56-mile ride in New York in approximately 50-degree weather, let's get into three science-backed reasons why doing hard things is actually so good for us. 00:07:26.039 --> 00:07:31.159 First and foremost, doing hard things builds self-efficacy. 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:34.759 Okay, this actually might be my favorite one. 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:37.959 Have you ever heard of self-efficacy? 00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:42.199 It's basically a concept developed by a psychologist, Albert Bandura. 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:47.879 And essentially, self-efficacy is your belief in your ability to accomplish something. 00:07:48.120 --> 00:07:52.759 Not whether you're actually capable of doing it, but whether you believe that you can. 00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:59.560 And one of the most powerful ways that we develop the belief is through something called a mastery experience. 00:07:59.799 --> 00:08:06.279 Basically, you do something challenging, you work through it, and you gain evidence that you're capable of it. 00:08:06.519 --> 00:08:13.000 So the next time that you're faced with something difficult, you have that previous experience to draw from. 00:08:13.239 --> 00:08:15.959 Think about your first IV insertion as a nurse. 00:08:16.199 --> 00:08:17.719 Maybe your hands were shaking. 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:22.680 Maybe you were so nervous that you could barely open the supplies to start the IV. 00:08:23.000 --> 00:08:27.479 You're standing there possibly thinking, oh my God, please let me get this IV. 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:29.000 And maybe you got it. 00:08:29.159 --> 00:08:30.919 Or maybe you didn't. 00:08:31.239 --> 00:08:35.320 But you practiced, you got feedback, and you tried again. 00:08:35.480 --> 00:08:37.879 And eventually you became more confident. 00:08:38.120 --> 00:08:42.519 And now, after doing hundreds of IVs, you probably don't think twice about it. 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:47.879 Something that once made you feel incredibly nervous has now become routine. 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:51.720 And it's not because you were magically born with confidence, right? 00:08:52.039 --> 00:08:55.320 It's because that you built it, you practiced. 00:08:55.639 --> 00:08:59.480 Confidence isn't always something that you need before doing hard things. 00:08:59.720 --> 00:09:04.039 Sometimes confidence is what you earn by doing them. 00:09:04.200 --> 00:09:05.720 I want you to think about that. 00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:14.120 My husband is going to be more confident in his ability to complete another half Iron Man after today because he'll have this experience behind him. 00:09:14.360 --> 00:09:17.240 He'll know what the training requires. 00:09:17.399 --> 00:09:20.039 He'll know what race day feels like. 00:09:20.279 --> 00:09:23.320 And he'll know that he's done it before. 00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:26.279 And that belief matters so much. 00:09:26.440 --> 00:09:34.519 Because when we believe we're capable of something, we're often more willing to attempt it, put effort into it, and keep going when it becomes challenging. 00:09:34.759 --> 00:09:46.200 So if you're waiting to feel confident before applying for that job or before starting a business, or before just putting yourself out there, you might be waiting a really long time or forever. 00:09:46.680 --> 00:09:51.080 Sometimes you have to just do the thing first and let the confidence catch up. 00:09:51.639 --> 00:09:58.360 All right, number two doing hard things can increase resilience and our ability to cope with stress. 00:09:58.920 --> 00:10:07.320 This one is especially important for nurses because let's be real, nursing can be incredibly stressful. 00:10:08.200 --> 00:10:19.240 We deal with high pressure situations, emotionally difficult experiences, unpredictable shifts, and sometimes things that are completely outside of our control. 00:10:20.120 --> 00:10:25.400 And being able to manage stress is an important part of a sustainable career in nursing. 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:30.360 There's a concept in psychology called stress inoculation. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:43.800 The basic idea

here is that when we're exposed to manageable challenges and have the opportunity to practice coping skills, we can become better equipped to navigate future stressful situations. 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:47.480 It's almost like building experience with discomfort. 00:10:47.720 --> 00:10:51.320 Think about the first time you were involved in a rapid response. 00:10:51.639 --> 00:10:53.879 Maybe your heart was pounding. 00:10:54.120 --> 00:11:00.680 Maybe you were trying to remember where the supplies are, what supplies to grab, who to call, what your role was. 00:11:00.920 --> 00:11:05.320 And it probably felt overwhelming because it was just so unfamiliar. 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:10.680 Now think about a nurse who's been through 20 rapid responses. 00:11:11.000 --> 00:11:12.600 Is it still stressful? 00:11:12.920 --> 00:11:14.040 Absolutely. 00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:22.600 But they understand the process, they know their role, they've practiced responding under pressure, and they have experience to draw from. 00:11:22.840 --> 00:11:24.360 That's the big difference. 00:11:25.160 --> 00:11:29.560 Now I want to be clear that stress alone doesn't automatically make us resilient. 00:11:29.879 --> 00:11:34.280 Support matters, preparation matters, recovery matters. 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:41.960 And there's a big difference between learning to manage a challenge and being repeatedly exposed to unhealthy levels of stress. 00:11:42.280 --> 00:11:47.160 But I think there's another piece of this that doesn't get talked about enough. 00:11:47.720 --> 00:11:52.040 Sometimes going through something difficult changes your perspective on everything else. 00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:54.120 And I can speak to this personally. 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:59.879 One of the hardest things that I've ever experienced was caring for my father who had terminal cancer. 00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:03.800 It was incredibly difficult emotionally. 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:10.759 And I don't want to sit here and say that going through something like that was a good thing or that I needed that experience to grow. 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:13.560 Because I wouldn't wish that on anyone. 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:20.920 But I can absolutely say that that changed my entire perspective on really everything in life. 00:12:21.160 --> 00:12:27.720 There are things that used to feel incredibly intimidating to me that just don't carry the same weight anymore. 00:12:28.280 --> 00:12:34.519 Like putting myself on social media, starting a business, taking a professional risk. 00:12:35.160 --> 00:12:44.120 Those things can still be scary, but when I compare them to what I experienced caring for my dad, they don't feel nearly as overwhelming or scary. 00:12:44.360 --> 00:12:47.879 It gave me a different perspective on what really matters. 00:12:48.200 --> 00:12:55.080 And it helped me recognize that I've already navigated some incredibly difficult experiences in my life. 00:12:55.320 --> 00:12:59.879 I can feel nervous

about something without treating it like the end of the world. 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:03.240 And I think that's a really important lesson. 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:08.759 Not every hard thing is equally hard, and not every uncomfortable thing is actually dangerous. 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:17.320 Sometimes our brains react to uncertainty as though we're facing a much bigger threat than we really are, which actually brings me to the next benefit. 00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:23.000 So, number three, doing hard things expands our sense of identity and what's actually possible. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:32.200 This is where things get really interesting because when we consistently avoid challenges, we can unintentionally start building our lives around what's familiar. 00:13:32.440 --> 00:13:36.040 We stick with what we know, we stay where we're comfortable. 00:13:36.200 --> 00:13:41.560 And sometimes we begin to believe that the things we've never done are actually things we cannot do. 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:49.000 But when we challenge ourselves, we create opportunities to discover new abilities, new strengths, and even new interests. 00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:52.920 And slowly our idea of who we are starts to change. 00:13:53.160 --> 00:13:55.639 I think running is a perfect example of this. 00:13:55.879 --> 00:14:01.080 If you've listened to this podcast before, then you probably know I've been an avid runner since high school. 00:14:01.240 --> 00:14:05.480 When I first started running competitively, I raced mostly 5Ks. 00:14:05.639 --> 00:14:08.680 And that's just over three miles, okay? 00:14:09.080 --> 00:14:11.400 And at the time, that was my thing, right? 00:14:11.639 --> 00:14:13.160 I was a 5K runner. 00:14:13.400 --> 00:14:16.280 I did road races, ran in high school, etc. 00:14:16.840 --> 00:14:17.960 Ran in college. 00:14:18.200 --> 00:14:21.800 Then years later, I decided, let's just try a half marathon. 00:14:21.879 --> 00:14:29.320 And then suddenly, after training for 13.1 miles, running three miles didn't really seem so intimidating anymore. 00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:34.440 And eventually I started thinking, well, if I can run a half marathon, maybe I can run a full marathon. 00:14:34.600 --> 00:14:38.600 And now, well, now I have, I believe, six marathons under my belt. 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:39.320 Might be seven. 00:14:39.400 --> 00:14:41.080 I might be forgetting one, but I'm not sure. 00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:50.840 Anywho, the thing is, when I was running those early 5Ks, I wasn't sitting there thinking, oh yeah, one day I'm gonna run 26.2 miles. 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:52.680 That wasn't even on my radar. 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:55.080 And honestly, it would have felt overwhelming. 00:14:55.320 --> 00:15:01.080 It was through years of running, training, gradually challenging myself that I began to see what was possible. 00:15:01.320 --> 00:15:05.560 Each experience expanded what I believed that I could actually do. 00:15:05.800 --> 00:15:09.879 And honestly, the same thing happened in my professional life. 00:15:10.120 --> 00:15:29.000 When I first started Nurse Coach Caroline, I remember having this idea, this thought of, oh, how cool would it be to create an entire career platform for new grad nurses, a place where they could get help for resumes and interviews and navigate the entire hiring process. 00:15:29.320 --> 00:15:34.200 But almost immediately, I remember thinking, well, I could never be the one to do that. 00:15:34.360 --> 00:15:41.080 That's gonna have to be some big organization to create that, or just some other person with a different skill set. 00:15:41.320 --> 00:15:45.240 It just felt so far outside of my abilities. 00:15:45.560 --> 00:16:00.519 Fast forward three years, and here I am getting ready to launch Lumina RN, an AI-powered career preparation platform built around so much of what I've learned through nursing leadership, recruiting, and coaching new grads. 00:16:00.759 --> 00:16:02.920 And I mean, what? 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:08.280 I actually saw a TikTok memory pop up recently from two years ago. 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:08.759 Okay. 00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:12.120 It was one of those on this day, October 23rd. 00:16:12.200 --> 00:16:14.600 So today's the 24th, as I'm recording this. 00:16:14.920 --> 00:16:16.680 23rd, 2024. 00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:27.639 It was a video of me promoting a free webinar that I was hosting for new grads about nurse, the nursing job search, the hiring process, interview skills, etc. 00:16:28.040 --> 00:16:32.680 And it made me stop for a second because it hit me how freaking far I've come. 00:16:32.920 --> 00:16:40.360 Two years ago, I was promoting a free webinar, and now I'm preparing to introduce an entire career platform to nursing students. 00:16:40.600 --> 00:16:43.080 And I'm not saying that to brag, absolutely not. 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:51.879 I say it because the version of me who started Nurse Coach Caroline couldn't fully imagine what the version of me today would actually be capable of. 00:16:52.120 --> 00:16:54.759 And I think that's true for so many of us. 00:16:55.080 --> 00:17:01.800 We underestimate our future selves because we're evaluating what's possible based on who we are right now, today. 00:17:02.200 --> 00:17:12.039 But you're not going to be the same person a year from now, especially if you keep learning, challenging yourself, and taking steps towards the things that you want. 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:16.599 Okay, but Caroline, hard things are hard. 00:17:16.920 --> 00:17:18.920 Girl, I know they are. 00:17:19.240 --> 00:17:21.000 They can be so exhausting. 00:17:21.240 --> 00:17:25.639 They can test your patience, your confidence, and sometimes even your sanity. 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:30.519 And I'm certainly not suggesting that every difficult thing is worth doing. 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:33.400 Some challenges are opportunities for growth. 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:37.000 Others are simply not aligned with

your goals, values, or seasons of life. 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:39.079 And learning to tell the difference is important. 00:17:39.240 --> 00:17:44.039 So I want to share a few things I personally do when I'm faced with something that feels really hard. 00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:49.720 Because I don't just wake up every morning feeling fearless and ready to tackle whatever comes my way. 00:17:50.039 --> 00:17:51.000 Trust me. 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:53.799 I overthink things too. 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:56.680 And I want to run from hard things too. 00:17:57.000 --> 00:17:59.559 I question myself all the time. 00:18:00.039 --> 00:18:01.639 I get overwhelmed. 00:18:01.879 --> 00:18:04.920 But I've learned a few strategies to help me move forward anyway. 00:18:05.000 --> 00:18:06.279 And I want to share them with you. 00:18:06.519 --> 00:18:13.000 First, I ask myself, am I saying no because it's wrong for me or because it scares me? 00:18:13.240 --> 00:18:14.440 This is a big one. 00:18:14.600 --> 00:18:23.720 When an unexpected opportunity comes our way, sometimes our immediate reaction is to say no, not because it's necessarily a bad opportunity, but because it's unfamiliar. 00:18:23.960 --> 00:18:26.840 We don't know exactly how it's going to go. 00:18:27.079 --> 00:18:29.480 We don't know if we will succeed. 00:18:29.720 --> 00:18:31.799 We are afraid of the pressure. 00:18:32.120 --> 00:18:34.440 And saying no just feels safer. 00:18:34.840 --> 00:18:37.880 So I've started asking myself a really important question. 00:18:38.120 --> 00:18:40.039 Do I actually not want to do this? 00:18:40.120 --> 00:18:43.079 Or am I just afraid that I won't be able to pull it off? 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:46.360 Because those are two very different things. 00:18:46.519 --> 00:18:50.519 And maybe the opportunity just doesn't actually make sense for your life. 00:18:50.840 --> 00:18:58.519 And maybe it's because you don't have the time or it conflicts with your priorities, or maybe it's just simply not something that you want. 00:18:58.759 --> 00:19:01.799 Those are valid reasons to say no to something. 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:09.960 But if the only thing holding you back is the possibility that you might not be good enough, that's where this is all worth exploring. 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:15.400 And I actually have the perfect example because this literally just happened to me. 00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:22.840 About two weeks ago, I registered Lumina RN to have an exhibitor booth at the California Nursing Student Convention. 00:19:23.319 --> 00:19:26.200 And let me tell you, this was a very last-minute decision. 00:19:26.360 --> 00:19:29.880 The convention's actually happening in the beginning of November. 00:19:30.039 --> 00:19:30.279 Okay. 00:19:30.360 --> 00:19:33.880 So I'm like cutting it close on timelines or deadlines, et cetera. 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:36.120 And here I am trying to get everything ready. 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.440 Okay. 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:37.880 I'm ordering banners. 00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:39.319 I'm ordering business cards. 00:19:39.400 --> 00:19:40.279 I'm ordering handouts. 00:19:40.519 --> 00:19:42.680 I'm getting all the trade show materials. 00:19:42.920 --> 00:19:45.799 I'm creating a special offer for the attendees. 00:19:46.120 --> 00:19:50.360 I am booking flights, accommodations, et cetera. 00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:50.759 Okay. 00:19:50.920 --> 00:19:54.840 So I feel like I am already like scrambling to get stuff done. 00:19:55.160 --> 00:20:01.960 And I have been communicating with the convention coordinator, and I sent her a handout that we're planning to share with students. 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:14.600 And she actually emailed me back saying something along the lines of, hey, I was looking at your materials for the convention and I was wondering if you'd be interested in presenting actually at the event. 00:20:14.920 --> 00:20:18.680 We have one spot left, and I think that you'd be perfect. 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:25.079 And then she adds, of course, if this is too last minute or too big of an ask, I completely understand. 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.840 Okay, guys. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:31.799 I immediately started drafting an email back. 00:20:32.360 --> 00:20:34.920 And this was pretty much what was in it. 00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:37.799 Well, how many people will be attending? 00:20:38.039 --> 00:20:40.759 Who would I need to create a slideshow? 00:20:40.920 --> 00:20:42.840 How long would I have to speak? 00:20:43.079 --> 00:20:44.920 Would there be enough time to prepare? 00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:47.240 Question after question after question, okay? 00:20:47.640 --> 00:20:49.240 And then I stopped. 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:55.799 I looked up from my laptop, and there is my vision board, and I shit you not. 00:20:56.279 --> 00:21:00.600 There's literally a picture on my vision board of someone speaking at a conference, okay? 00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:09.400 I looked over at my husband, explained to him what was happening, and he literally says to me, I will divorce you if you don't say yes. 00:21:09.720 --> 00:21:16.680 He's obviously kidding, but I was like, wait, you're absolutely right. 00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:19.559 What am I doing right now? 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:23.960 This is literally something I've been wanting, what I've been praying for, hoping for. 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:27.400 This exact opportunity just landed in my inbox. 00:21:27.480 --> 00:21:30.600 And I'm sitting here trying to come up with reasons why I shouldn't do it. 00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:33.559 Just because I don't have months to prepare. 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:36.440 But that doesn't mean that I can't do it. 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:41.000 Just because it's last minute doesn't mean that it's the wrong opportunity. 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:45.400 And once I recognized that, my entire perspective changed. 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:48.440 I deleted the email that I had drafted. 00:21:48.840 -->

00:21:53.720 And I wrote back saying I would absolutely love the opportunity. 00:21:53.960 --> 00:21:59.240 By the way, as I'm recording this, I still don't have a slide deck or presentation ready. 00:21:59.400 --> 00:22:00.680 So there is that. 00:22:00.920 --> 00:22:04.840 But the funny thing is, once I said yes, I actually felt really good about it. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:06.200 Like this is my jam. 00:22:06.360 --> 00:22:09.960 I could talk about this stuff all day long, okay? 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:13.640 And when I think about it, I know this is something that I'm capable of doing. 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:20.279 I've taught nursing students, I've presented information before, I've hosted webinar after webinar after webinar. 00:22:20.519 --> 00:22:26.279 I've coached hundreds of new grads, I've spoken on camera and behind a mic for years. 00:22:26.519 --> 00:22:28.600 This is something that I absolutely can do. 00:22:28.840 --> 00:22:36.039 The uncomfortable part wasn't necessarily the presentation itself, it was the uncertainty around it. 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:39.559 And I think that's the important distinction here. 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:46.680 Sometimes we're not actually afraid of the thing, we're afraid of not knowing exactly how the thing is going to go. 00:22:47.559 --> 00:22:56.519 Okay, next I want to share that I also, when I encounter hard things, I focus on the next step, not the entire mountain. 00:22:56.840 --> 00:22:59.480 This is something that running has actually taught me. 00:22:59.960 --> 00:23:03.559 When I trained for my first marathon, I followed a training plan for months. 00:23:03.720 --> 00:23:11.720 And in the beginning, I didn't sit there obsessing over the 18 or 20 mile training run that was to come a couple weeks before the marathon. 00:23:11.960 --> 00:23:14.600 Because if I had, it would have freaked me out. 00:23:14.840 --> 00:23:16.680 Instead, I just looked at the week ahead. 00:23:16.920 --> 00:23:19.160 What runs do I need to complete this week? 00:23:19.400 --> 00:23:21.960 What was my long run this weekend? 00:23:22.120 --> 00:23:23.079 What did that look like? 00:23:23.240 --> 00:23:24.200 And that's it. 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:26.200 One week at a time. 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:30.279 And something really interesting happened. 00:23:30.600 --> 00:23:37.000 By the time I got halfway through the training plan, those longer runs didn't seem nearly as intimidating anymore. 00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:40.360 Because I had gradually worked my way up to them. 00:23:40.600 --> 00:23:42.200 And I built the endurance. 00:23:42.360 --> 00:23:44.600 I built the confidence along the way. 00:23:44.840 --> 00:23:49.559 And suddenly something that once felt impossible felt achievable. 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:51.960 I approached business the exact same way. 00:23:52.120 --> 00:24:01.319 If I had sat down three years ago and made a list of every single thing required to build an AI-powered nursing career platform, I probably would have closed my laptop and said, absolutely not. 00:24:01.720 --> 00:24:05.960 But instead, I focus on what could I do next? 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:13.880 One project, learn one skill, send one email, make one decision. 00:24:14.279 --> 00:24:16.039 And those steps accumulated. 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:19.000 The bigger goal started becoming more tangible. 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:24.840 So if you're working towards something that feels overwhelming, stop staring at the entire mountain. 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:27.319 What's the next step that you can take? 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:30.680 Not the next 50 steps, just the next one. 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:37.400 Okay, third, this is something that I do again when I'm encountering the hard thing. 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:41.000 I actually think about how I'm going to feel afterward. 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:45.000 This is especially helpful when the hard thing involves some type of performance, okay? 00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:49.880 A race, a presentation, an interview, maybe a skill at the bedside. 00:24:50.039 --> 00:24:55.960 Something where you're putting yourself out there and there's a possibility that you won't perform exactly how you hoped, okay? 00:24:56.120 --> 00:24:58.920 When I run a marathon, I think about crossing the finish line. 00:24:59.160 --> 00:25:04.680 And I'm not talking about how I'm going to feel physically, because physically, I might feel like absolute trash. 00:25:04.920 --> 00:25:06.920 Everything usually hurts at the end of a marathon. 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:07.240 Okay. 00:25:07.400 --> 00:25:10.519 You've got blisters, chafing, etc. 00:25:10.920 --> 00:25:15.799 But emotionally, the feeling of accomplishment is incredible. 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:21.240 There's something so powerful about knowing you work towards something difficult and you followed through. 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:24.680 And I remind myself of that feeling when things get hard. 00:25:24.840 --> 00:25:26.279 I also think about something else. 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:28.840 Which feeling would you rather live with afterward? 00:25:29.079 --> 00:25:34.680 The satisfaction of knowing I tried or the regret of knowing I didn't even give myself a chance. 00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:38.920 And that's honestly exactly how I approach the California speaking opportunity. 00:25:39.240 --> 00:25:40.519 Could something go wrong? 00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.720 Course it could. 00:25:41.960 --> 00:25:42.519 You know what? 00:25:42.759 --> 00:25:43.319 It might. 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:44.600 It's life, right? 00:25:44.759 --> 00:25:46.440 Maybe I stumble over my words. 00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:48.840 Maybe the technology doesn't cooperate. 00:25:49.079 --> 00:25:51.960 Maybe I forget something that I really wanted to say. 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:57.000 But I already know when I leave the conference, I'm going to be happy that I said yes. 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:59.480 I'm going to be so proud of myself. 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:04.519 Had I

turned the opportunity down, I know myself right now. 00:26:04.600 --> 00:26:07.960 I would have spent the entire conference thinking, why didn't I just do it? 00:26:08.120 --> 00:26:09.960 Why didn't I just give it a go? 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:12.920 Now, this doesn't mean you should say yes to every opportunity, right? 00:26:13.000 --> 00:26:13.720 I've said that before. 00:26:13.880 --> 00:26:23.960 But when something is genuinely important to you, sometimes the possibility of a less than perfect outcome is a whole lot easier to live with than the regret of never trying. 00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:28.759 And lastly, I remind myself that meaningful things take time. 00:26:29.079 --> 00:26:32.440 I think we live in a world where we want everything to happen quickly. 00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:34.279 We want the results. 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:36.039 We want the success. 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:38.120 We want the confidence. 00:26:38.360 --> 00:26:42.680 We want to arrive at the finish line without always appreciating what it takes to get there. 00:26:42.920 --> 00:26:52.120 But the things I'm most proud in my life, and I challenge you to think about the same for you, is that the things that actually took work. 00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:53.880 They took patience. 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:58.120 They challenged me in ways I didn't even know that I could be challenged. 00:26:58.279 --> 00:27:02.759 And sometimes they made me question whether I could actually pull them off. 00:27:03.000 --> 00:27:06.920 But that's also why those accomplishments mean so much to me. 00:27:07.160 --> 00:27:15.720 And I know this might sound a little woo-woo, but sometimes I like to think of an opportunity that lands in my lap as a little nudge from the universe. 00:27:16.039 --> 00:27:20.039 Almost like it's saying, hey, you've been asking for this. 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:21.640 Here's your chance. 00:27:22.440 --> 00:27:25.880 Now that doesn't mean the opportunity is guaranteed to work out, okay? 00:27:26.039 --> 00:27:30.519 Or that it's going to unfold in the way that you envision or that it's going to go perfectly. 00:27:30.759 --> 00:27:36.279 But sometimes it's the reminder that I need to trust the experience that I've built and give myself a chance. 00:27:36.440 --> 00:27:38.279 Take a bet on yourself, right? 00:27:38.680 --> 00:27:46.360 Because the person that I am today has already done things that the younger version of me would have never thought possible. 00:27:46.680 --> 00:27:48.920 And honestly, I bet the same for you. 00:27:49.160 --> 00:27:51.960 So here's what I want to leave you with today. 00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:57.160 When was the last thing that you did something that genuinely scared you? 00:27:57.799 --> 00:28:06.519 Not because it was dangerous, not because it was unhealthy or harmful, but because you weren't sure how you could actually pull it off. 00:28:06.759 --> 00:28:10.279 Maybe it was applying for a nursing job that you didn't think that you were qualified for. 00:28:10.519 --> 00:28:12.600 Maybe it was signing up for a race. 00:28:12.840 --> 00:28:14.600 Maybe it was starting a business. 00:28:14.759 --> 00:28:17.880 Maybe it was having a conversation that you've been avoiding. 00:28:18.120 --> 00:28:25.960 Or maybe there's something you've wanted to do for years, but every time the opportunity comes around, you find another reason to put it off. 00:28:26.279 --> 00:28:28.200 Here's what I want you to consider. 00:28:29.079 --> 00:28:35.720 What if the thing you're avoiding, because it feels hard, is actually one of the experiences that could help you grow the most? 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:43.640 What if a year from now you're looking back at the version of yourself thinking, wow, I can't believe I almost didn't do that? 00:28:44.039 --> 00:28:47.559 Because doing hard things isn't just about the accomplishment. 00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:52.200 It's about the person you become while working toward it. 00:28:52.360 --> 00:28:55.079 It's about building evidence that you're capable. 00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:59.000 It's about expanding your understanding of what's possible. 00:28:59.799 --> 00:29:05.960 And it's about realizing that you don't have to feel completely ready before taking the first step. 00:29:06.519 --> 00:29:10.200 Remember what my son's second grade teacher taught him. 00:29:10.440 --> 00:29:12.120 We can do hard things. 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:17.480 And I think sometimes as adults, we need to hear that reminder just as much as second graders do. 00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:19.640 So here's my challenge for you this week. 00:29:19.799 --> 00:29:21.880 Think of one thing you've been putting off. 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:27.559 Not because it doesn't matter to you, but because you're afraid it might be difficult or make you feel uncomfortable. 00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:29.799 And take one step toward it. 00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:32.360 It doesn't have to be a giant leap. 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:35.000 Just one simple step. 00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:39.000 Because you don't become confident while waiting for things to feel easy. 00:29:39.160 --> 00:29:43.640 You become confident by collecting evidence that you can do hard things. 00:29:43.880 --> 00:29:45.000 And who knows? 00:29:45.240 --> 00:29:50.600 Maybe the next version of you is waiting on the other side of something you've been afraid to try. 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:53.079 All right, you know the drill. 00:29:53.240 --> 00:29:55.799 I have one hand for me and the other for you. 00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:57.000 Signing off. 00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:04.200 Well, that's it for today's episode of Life After Nursing School. 00:30:04.360 --> 00:30:09.640 I hope you feel more confident and ready to tackle the challenges that come with starting your nursing career. 00:30:09.880 --> 00:30:16.600 Remember, the first year or two might not be easy, but with the right mindset, you can overcome anything. 00:30:16.840 --> 00:30:23.559 If you found value in today's episode, I'd love for you to hit that subscribe button so you never miss a future episode. 00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:27.720 Also, please consider leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform. 00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:30.840 It helps so much in reaching other new nurses like you. 00:30:31.079 --> 00:30:34.360 Thanks for listening, and remember, you've got this. 00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:36.840 Take care and see you next time.