"Very Well Then, I Contradict Myself": Expanding Our Possibilities

"Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself. (I am large, I contain multitudes.)" 

-- Walt Whitman

We tend to celebrate steadfastness. We lift up those who "stay the course," who stick to their resolve, who dedicate themselves to a singular purpose in life. I see value in this. Where would we be without the 35-year veteran teachers? The doctors and researchers who spent decades of their lives in search of a cure? There is a lot to be said for steadfast determination. 

However, when we find a groove, we also run the risk of creating a rut, don't we? We can become creatures of habit, more stuck in our ways than stuck to our resolves. We can find ourselves saying things like, "But this is how we've always done it." Our ego can keep us from admitting that there may be a better way than we've always done. We might become so stubborn that we don't even look around for other perspectives or ways to improve. 

Sometimes, when we do discover that a way of thinking we once held no longer suits us, it can be difficult to tell others of the shift. We don't want to be seen as contradicting ourselves or as a "flip-flopper" who can't make up their mind. 

But, if we want to grow and expand our possibilities, we have to get comfortable contradicting ourselves. We are capable of much more -- as Whitman says, we "contain multitudes." We cannot allow short-sighted beliefs to limit our influence and purpose. Even when it comes to things we do well, we can always improve by seeking out other perspectives. For example, I love to talk to other principals, to hear about their school cultures and routines. My goal (and that of my team) is to continually ask, "What is best for kids?" I love "stealing" the good ideas of others, as I strive to do what is best for the kids in my care. In my career field, the glacial speed of change can be be mind-blowingly frustrating. We are still "doing school" largely the same way as we were 100 years ago. Good thing that times haven't changed and kids are the same, right? When we aren't comfortable with contradicting ourselves, we stagnate and serve the status quo. 

Now, this is not to say that someone can't possibly grow or develop if they stay in the same job for 35 years. I know teachers who have evolved over decades in the classroom, improving each year because they committed themselves to learning and growing. (I also knew people in my career who were still using the same curriculum worksheets, decades after their relevance and effectiveness expired.) We can absolutely stay devoted to a purpose while staying open to new ideas. The danger lies in wearing the blinders of habit, preventing a wider perspective. 

We cannot afford to be afraid to contradict ourselves any longer. While we succumb to the vanity of the ego, we lose access to the potential inside us. What might be waiting for you in your multitudes?