Caught By Surprise
Sometimes things take us by surprise. We think we know people or situations so well and then our world is turned upside down.
Maybe we even think we know ourselves and then through a series of events, we surprise ourselves with what we’re capable of. For me, gymnastics is one of the many areas of my life that has shown me I’m capable of so much more than I give myself credit for.
And I’d venture to say, the same way we sell ourselves short, we often do the same to others unintentionally. We see the person in front of us, and think that’s all there is to them. We dismiss people based on first impressions or because of things we’ve heard. Yet, we never give them the chance to prove us wrong.
I don’t know about you reader, but recently, I’m really enjoying being proven wrong. I’m enjoying discovering I’m capable of more than I imagined. I’m enjoying finding out people are so much more interesting than I gave them credit for. I’m enjoying being humbled by the fact I don’t know it all.
For the first time in a while, I’m seeing things from a new perspective and for the first time, possibly ever, I don’t mind discovering that I’ve been so wrong.
People are worth giving a chance. People are worth the investment of time it takes to discover what makes them tick, what makes them light up, and what breaks their heart.
Making the effort to really get to know people has given me a new perspective into the world around me and myself. I’ve learned things about myself that I never recognized and I’ve become a better person through those moments of self-realization. But had I not opened my heart to getting to know people who might be different than me or have different perspectives than I do, I’d be missing out on so much.
Give people a chance, reader. You never know when you might be pleasantly surprised and amazed at what you’ll find.
❤
Manda
HappilyMe 
I’m learning this myself and it’s a blessing to discover more about a person than you ever realized.
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Yes!! I agree completely.
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I’m a super social person and I love being surrounded by people and making new friends. But it’s one thing to see these people in your typical social settings like work, and another to really get to know them. That is why I’m so grateful for social media! It allows us to connect from anywhere and see just what everyone is into.
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So true! Love how you put that.
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I think when you have been hurt before it is definitely hard to become invested in people again but I totally agree there are some people who are definitely worth it!
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I think we all have those moments where we feel fed up with people as a whole, after being hurt. You’re right though, there are definitely people who are worth investing in still. 🙂
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I’m in the same boat as cvnxena, but I totally agree with you as well! There are people out there that are truly worth getting to know. – HilLesha
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You never know when you are about to meet someone incredible!
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I love this so much! I tend to error on the side of not giving people a chance and I really need to change that!
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I think we all tend to have tunnel vision walking throughout the day. We need to open our eyes and hearts and explore all the surprises around us!
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People are incredibly layered. It is important to get to know all the layers before making any kind of judgment or opinion about someone. Keep your heart open.
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Digging deeper to find those inner qualities is important. You need to look past the shell and see the inner character.
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I think the key is to always assume we don’t know it all and that we can learn something new from every person we meet.
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Lovely article. I love that you mention gymnastics. Sports can really push us to learn more about ourselves and what we’re capable of. And that definitely includes being open to others!
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I am at times a huge introvert and often in my own head about things. When meeting knew people sometimes it doesn’t even phase me and then I ask why i don’t know many people! Oh its my fault lol
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This is great. I have a very hard time trusting and giving people a chance. I’ve always had a hard time, and now it just doesn’t get any easier. People can be hard to read and get to know, so I’ve never been very open. I need to change that.
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I like being pleasantly surprised by people that you wouldn’t think you can click with. Making friends that are genuinely good people can be hard but they are out there!
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I don’t really go out and meet new people (it is my last semester of college) and I already have all my friends. But it is nice to find a person every now and again that you click with!
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I think this is a lesson most of us will learn eventually!!
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You made some very good points there. I love venturing out of my comfort zone from time to time. I discovered some amazing things because of that.
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Opening up to others is not always easy but it’s also not impossible. I am very selective when it comes to people to trust. But you’re right, we find friends in the most unexpected places!
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I find that the more I give people a chance and the more I reserve judgement the more people surprise me. That’s how I’ve ended up with some great friends 🙂
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It is good to find out that all the preconceived notions that you have about someone are wrong, at least when they are a much better person than what you have been led to believe.
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I have a very hard time openinf up to people but I love meeting new people. Kind of strange I know. Getting to know what makes people tick is always fun for me and I think it’s very important to always push outside your comfort zone.
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I love the way you write, it really drew me in to your post…
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