Sometimes we all need to hear some words of encouragement. Recently, a colleague who I have had the wonderful opportunity to do some mentoring with sent me the following message. I hope these words mean as much to you as they do to me.
In life, things happen fast. You barely take care of one problem and two more surface. Every day you face challenges, interruptions, personality conflicts, and disappointments. Often you feel overwhelmed and unsure where to start "fixing" your issues. In your work world especially, your problem is often someone else's problem and they're looking to you to "fix" it as well. So what do you do when you're faced with trying to maintain fixing your own problems AND those of others.
First, one simple concept can get you through the most stressful of times: be grateful. Yes, you may not like what you're going through, or how much is on your plate, or that you're unable to complete the most simplest of tasks, but say "Thank-You" anyway. These challenges are all opportunities. Every time you're faced with a tough time, it's important to consciously relinquish the anxiety and stop trying to force the direction you want things to go. Doing so is like swimming against a current, it exhausts you and gets you nowhere fast. The flow of things is meant to be experienced, so you can appreciate what's happening. Without going through a tough time, you can't appreciate the individuals around you and what they may have to offer to get you out of a scary current.
Second, trust. Realize that at this very moment you're enough, worthy, and important. You can't fix everything and you're not meant to. The issue isn't about trying to get others to take you seriously, or understand how valuable you are, or getting people to believe you're good enough. The issue is, do YOU believe you're committed, valuable, and good enough? If you trust that you are, so will others. It's as simple as that!
You see, your relationship with yourself is the most important relationship you need to maintain. The quality of that relationship determines the quality of your other relationships. Most important, when you're grateful for exactly who you are today, others become grateful for what you can and cannot provide...and in my mind-that's the key to a successful relationship with self, work, and life.
Jennifer Vecere MSN-Ed, RN, BC
Advanced Nurse Clinician Virtua Memorial Hospital
The only person you should try to be better than, is the person you were yesterday.
(Author unknown)
Thank you, Jennifer, for being the great nurse that you are. To the rest of you, be healthy, be happy, be great advocates for your patients...be grateful and trust!
AnneMarie Palatnik, MSN, APN, ACNS-BC