This year, I have started doing two things that I never thought I would do: lifting weights and programming.
I never thought I would lift weights because, to me, that was the realm of jocks and douchey gym bros. That isn’t who I wanted to be, so I wouldn’t lift weights.
I never thought I’d do computer programming because that was for tech whizzes with engineering degrees and no social skills. That isn’t who I wanted to be, so I wouldn’t lift weights.
However, I have always wanted to be an actor.
Then, I realized that my favorite actors lift weights, and that being in the best shape possible will only help me get work as an actor. I want to work as an actor, so now I lift weights.
I realized that I with computer programming I can make a good hourly wage to support myself and family, while still having the flexibility to be an actor. I want to be an actor and support my family, so now I’m learning programming.
My resistance to programming and weightlifting had nothing to do with the activities themselves, but my associations with them. By changing my associations, and seeing how these activities align with who I do strive to be, rather than who I don’t, my life became richer. I have more tools in my toolkit, and I can explore more avenues to more forward.
How might you be keeping yourself small by avoiding activities that rub against your vision of who you are and who you want to be?
As I’ve explored programming, I have discovered an entire community of artists turned coders. There are classical musicians, actors, and circus performers. Previously, I thought the Venn Diagram of coders and artists had no overlap, but now I realize the overlap is huge. Lots of coders look exactly like who I want to be. Same for weightlifters. By expanding my vision of who coders and weightlifters are, I have expanded the vision of who I can become.
Anytime we limit our vision of someone else, we limit ourselves. Dig underneath stereotypes and your own preconceptions, and your might find the treasures you’ve been searching for all along.