Adventures in Nursing Blog

Why Not?

Why Not?

I want to ask a very serious question.

Why not?

There is that old theory that if you say yes to everything, good things will happen. I'd challenge that. Saying yes to everything probably isn't the best idea. But asking yourself "why not" when presented with an opportunity or situation has a different effect. Just saying yes to everything means you're blind to the end result or consequences. Asking why not gives you a second to consider all the possibilities, good and bad.

I want to ask a couple related questions. When was the last time you did something for the first time? When was the last time you stepped out of your comfort zone and did something you never thought you'd do? It's not easy. I'd be the first to come up with excuses to not do something outside of my comfort zone. Saying no in those situations is easy. But it also limits you. It holds you back. Saying no robs you of experiences. As I've gotten older, I've found two things to be true. First, I'm not getting any younger. If I don't do it now, I'm probably never going to do it. And two...life is about experiences. My wife has taught me that. There is nothing more fulfilling than a life well lived. Sometimes that means doing things out of your comfort zone.

Here is where it might get tricky though. Saying yes gets you places that no never will. Saying why not gives you perspective. But, and this is a big BUT, don't allow your why not to always lead to a no. There are tons of rational reasons why you shouldn't do something. But there are just as many irrational reasons for why you SHOULD do something. The answer to a why not might be scary as hell, but if you don't take chances you'll never grow.

So, honestly...why not?

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