Krista Chesal, Content Solutions Specialist

Working through my current RBT training program, I had a realization that struck me as profound. I had thought initially that my choice to pursue Applied Behavior Analysis was a bit out of left field, that it came from my vocation as a mother, my volunteer work in classrooms over the decades, my personal experience with a child who has special medical needs, but didn’t really align with my past education.

I was reviewing my MA thesis, (does anyone else do this? just me? oohkaay) and realized that yes, it’s about writing. But it is primarily about the management of emotions and mental states of being while experiencing chronic, high levels of stress such as those experienced by caregivers of children with special needs through the use of simple and accessible behavior modifying tools including intentional expressive journaling. So.

For some reason, although I felt compelled to follow the path I’m on, I didn’t actually track that they were all related. It was a relief to see method to my madness and logic to my actions, even if only in retrospect. I would love to say that it was all part of a perfectly designed grand plan that I just happened to make work out, but that would be untrue. It worked out because for the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m actually trusting myself to go the direction that feels best, even when sometimes, other options look better on paper.

Hopefully you too are able to do what feels right for you, even when the more logical choice may look different.

Has anything ever worked out for you in retrospect that seemed unrelated at first? I would love to hear your stories!