From here to there:
I did it!
I’ve never thought of myself as an anxious person, so I was surprised when I began to feel increasingly worried at the thought of driving to Chilliwack on my own to attend a dog show last month.
by being at the end of my dog’s leash while navigating Rally Obedience courses and competing in dock diving this summer. This lack of growth was sowing seeds of doubt. I know that anxiety is a normal reaction to uncertainty and we build confidence when we set goals and achieve them. What I didn’t know was that when we lack confidence, we lose trust in our own judgment and abilities. I hadn’t driven in the Lower Mainland in over four I finally understood why I was feeling so anxious; I years, as I more often go to Vancouver Island these didn’t trust myself. days. Although driving in the Lower Mainland has I’d lost my confidence. never been my favourite thing to do, I’d never lost It was time to find it again. sleep about it before. Once I understood why I was feeling anxious over I tried to figure out why I was feeling so jittery; why my upcoming trip, I felt better prepared to deal with I had such a lack of confidence in my ability to drive it. After all what could happen? and to find my hotel and “You could get lost,” the the dog show park. I figlittle voice inside my head ured there were probably said. a few issues at play. “I could, but then I could One, more than a few find my way again,” I reyears had passed since plied. ISABELLE SOUTHCOTT I’d driven in heavy traf“You could be in an accific, and I was feeling less dent,” the voice continued. than confident in my ability to navigate the crazy, “Yes,” I said. “That’s why I have vehicle insurance.” busy traffic of the Lower Mainland. Two, I’m pushing I looked at my route map, programmed it in on my 60, and I felt uncomfortable at the thought of doing GPS, checked the ferry schedule, gassed up, packed, this on my own. Who would help me if I were in an got the dog ready and took a deep breath. I was ready. accident? Or got lost? Three, because of COVID, my The drive was long but it wasn’t nearly as dreadworld has shrunk in the past 20 months and my ful as I thought it would be. It was dark and a bit self-confidence has shrunk right along with it. rainy. I didn’t arrive until 11 pm and I’m pretty sure I realized that some of the things I used to I white-knuckled the steering wheel the whole way do that pushed me in different areas of my life there, but once I got going it was really no big deal. had gone by the wayside. I realized that I’d blown it way out of proportion by I hadn’t attended a group fitness class in worrying about it and making it seem much more difa very long time, I hadn’t competed in any ficult than it actually was. running events in years, and I hadn’t gone The interesting thing about this drive was, once I anywhere besides Vancouver Island since arrived and breathed a sigh of relief, I felt incrediI can’t remember when. I also hadn’t bly proud of myself for having done this on my own. been involved in Toastmasters and It may seem silly but that one trip helped me regain competed in any speech competitions something I’d lost – my confidence. Accomplishing (always a good way to step out of your something I was nervous about doing, and being able comfort zone) for several years. Come to to put a big check beside it because I did it, has helped think of it, the only way outside of work me trust me once again! that I’ve challenged myself recently is | isabelle@prliving.ca
The annual Powell River Chamber of Commerce
LAST WORD
Sav e th
ed
Business Awards gala and dinner is set for February 12, 2022. Watch for more details coming soon!
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• November 2021 • qathetliving.ca
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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