Get Out Of Your Lane

TL;DR:

Sometimes we find ourselves in too many lanes. While there is value in that, there is also great value in getting out of our lanes.
If we want to use our gifts and find our purpose with happiness, we’ve got to get out of our lane and move around to lean into curiosity and broaden our perspective.

This time of year is busy for everyone working in schools. Many things have to be discussed and decided quickly. As an instructional coach, I collaborate with lots of different groups and sometimes feel like Frogger, hopping in and out of different lanes attempting to help, inspire, or support.

Last week, I found myself in a teacher lane, a principal lane, an IT lane, a parent lane, a supervisor lane, and a support staff lane. After a while, I felt frazzled. Weary. Two people I admire and trust noticed this and said, “Suzanne. You’ve got to stay in your lane.” They weren’t being mean; they were trying to help protect my time, my head, and my heart. So for the next few days, stay in your lane became my repeated mantra as I tried to focus on things that were unquestionably in my personal or professional lane.

Stay in your lanes?

Many of us have been told that or have suggested that to someone else. Is there a time and place to stay in our lane? Sure. But oftentimes, there’s value in getting out of our lane.

I happily weave in and out of my lane, socially and professionally. This weaving is where I find energy, inspiration, connection, happiness, and possibility.

If we want to use our gifts and find our purpose with happiness, we've got to get out of our lane and move around to lean into curiosity and broaden our perspective. Great things never come from comfort zones. Click To Tweet

Later, I was with one of my best friends. We were talking about raising teenagers and helping them understand their purpose and how to best use their gifts in life. What I was hearing was, “How can we help our kids find their lane?”

Oprah Winfrey recently interviewed Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat Pray Love. Elizabeth described a hummingbird moving from tree to flower to field in order to use their gift to fulfill their purpose and cross-pollinate the world. What a beautiful metaphor to consider. If we want to use our gifts and find our purpose with happiness, we’ve got to get out of our lane and move around to lean into curiosity and broaden our perspective.

Summer : A great time to get out of your lane

Summer is right around the corner, and we are about to have a little bit more time, freedom, and flexibility to get out of our lane. Time to learn, try, and experience different things with different people.

What do you want to experience? Who do you want to connect or reconnect with? Do you have some big dream or goal that has been in your heart for a long time? The only way you are going to experience something new, connect, or reach that goal is to get out of your lane and try something different.

Great things never come from comfort zones.

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It’s time to get out of your lane.

Prince once said, “Wherever I am standing, that is my lane.”

Find yours. Then visit another. And maybe a few more after that.

I can’t wait to see where this takes you!

Small Shifts, Big Gifts!

“‘Doing something new is actually a core need for psychological wellbeing…it help us build confidence and a sense of self-efficacy. It can also be a way of connecting with others too,’” says Vanessa King, a positive psychology expert at Action for Happiness.

Try it! Think about something new you’d want to try, a goal you’d like to pursue, or someone you want to connect/reconnect with. This is your time to get out and experience something out of your comfort zone!

ABOUT SUZANNE DAILEY

Suzanne Dailey is a proud member of the Teach Better Family! She is an instructional coach in the Central Bucks School District where she has the honor and joy of working with elementary teachers and students in 15 buildings. Suzanne is Nationally Board Certified, a Fellow of the National Writing Project, and has a master’s degree in Reading. She is dedicated to nurturing and developing the whole child and teacher. Suzanne lives in Doylestown, Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.

Check out the Teach Happier Podcast here!