Nudging: Re-connect with a mentor
By Kelly Mishell, Guest Nudger
I was so pleased and excited when Kelly Mishell agreed to be a Guest Nudger. She is thoughtful, insightful, creative, and fun, and I know I will learn something deep from her this week. I hope you feel inspired to pursue this special nudge too! — Kathleen
Since I’m a first-time guest “Nudger,” Kathleen graciously offered a handful of possible ideas. Many sounded fun, but “Re-Connect with a Mentor” immediately conjured up intrigue—as well as a bit of nervousness and resistance in my body. That was my sign. This one will stretch me out of my comfort zone…and that’s the point, right?
I knew exactly who this mentor would be. I’d been thinking about reconnecting with Mr. Bell for years, but had put it off several times. He was my high school drama teacher in the early 1980s and a true mentor in my life. It was his influence and belief in me that opened my eyes to the idea of pursuing a professional acting career (which I did for nearly 20 years).
My resistance to contacting him surprised me because he was a very kind, approachable man. After some assessment, I came to the conclusion that this was a combination of guilt that I lost touch in the first place and my fear that the re-connection wouldn’t meet either of our expectations. I mean, he had so many students before and after me. Was I as special in his life as he was in mine? Would he care about seeing me?
Well…here’s the opportunity to overcome my negative mental chatter, check this off the bucket list, and, hopefully, visit with my 84-year-old mentor while I still can.
P.S. Next Tuesday, July 26, is “National All or Nothing Day”—yes, it’s a real thing! I’m going to take this opportunity to promote something that helps me dive into big days: Kelly’s Empowered Mind Affirmation Cards.
“I based this deck on a Universal truth: that your thoughts create your life experience,” Kelly says. So each morning, I flip to a new card and begin my day with a self-affirming statement. See if this is something that can help you. (And please note I am not getting any kind of consideration or kickback on this.)
