What Else Is Waiting Within Us?

There comes a point in life when we might think we know ourselves pretty well.

We know what we like and what we don't. We know what we're good at, what we're not so good at, and perhaps even what we're willing to try.

After all, we've had years to work it out.

We've lived through experiences that have changed us. We've learned lessons that have shaped the way we think, the choices we make, and the way we see the world.

And yet, I wonder if we ever really finish discovering who we are.

I have been thinking about that lately.

Not because I suddenly want to become somebody different, but because I am beginning to realise there may always be more within us than we know.

Perhaps it was there all along

There are things we discover about ourselves simply because life gives us a reason to discover them.

We don't always know how strong we can be until life requires strength from us.

We may never realise how adaptable we are until something familiar changes.

And we may not recognise an ability, an interest or even a part of our creativity until something gives us the opportunity to use it.

Perhaps those things weren't suddenly placed within us.

Perhaps they were already there, waiting.

Waiting for the right experience.

Waiting for curiosity.

Waiting for us to try something we hadn't tried before.

Or perhaps simply waiting for us to look at ourselves a little differently.

We are still allowed to surprise ourselves

I like that thought.

Because somewhere along the way, it can become very easy to put ourselves into little boxes.

I'm not creative.

I'm not good with technology.

I've never been able to do that.

That's just not me.

Maybe some of those things are true.

But maybe some of them are simply conclusions we reached before we had the opportunity to discover otherwise.

There is something rather wonderful about doing something you didn't think you could do and having that quiet moment when you realise:

Well… apparently I can.

It doesn't mean we need to reinvent ourselves.

It doesn't mean we need to constantly chase the next achievement or prove anything to anyone.

Sometimes the discovery itself is enough.

There may still be more

I don't believe everything in life needs to be extraordinary.

Some discoveries are small.

We learn something new.

We find ourselves interested in something we once ignored.

We have a conversation that makes us think.

We try something simply because we're curious.

And somewhere in the middle of it, we discover another little piece of ourselves.

I think that is one of the beautiful things about continuing to live, learn and remain curious.

Our past has shaped us, certainly.

But perhaps it hasn't finished defining what is possible.

There may still be ideas we haven't had.

Things we haven't learned.

Places we haven't seen.

People we haven't met.

Parts of ourselves we haven't needed yet.

And perhaps we don't have to go searching desperately for any of them.

We can simply remain open to the possibility that, no matter how well we think we know ourselves…

there may still be more within us waiting to be discovered.

What have you discovered about yourself that you never expected?

Love, Narelle x