“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day.” ~E.B. White
I saw this quote recently and was taken by it. Some days are like this. As healthcare professionals, chiropractors, nurses, physicians, NPs and PAs, we are charged with the duty to improve the world, at least for our patients. Some days we start so full of hope regarding what we want do to improve the lives of those we care for and the environments in which we work and live. Then again there is the desire to enjoy the present and appreciate the good that exists already right now in our lives.
Do these two have to be at odds with each other? How do we balance the desire to improve/change and the desire to enjoy what is?
Sometimes the desire to make a change comes from observing the way things are done and thinking there is a better way, and at others from a nagging sense of distress with the way things are. Certainly there are improvements that can and need to be made, but one can get burnt out if we are continually focusing on improving.
An antidote to this burn-out may be to “enjoy the world.” To put it simply, to appreciate a few positives each day. The habit of looking for good things on a daily basis and then writing down just three items, primes the brain to scan for positives in your life. This even works if you say each specific experience or item out loud. Attending to the positive that exists in the present builds a sense of gratitude which leads to a positive outlook. Shawn Achor refers to this as the Positive Tetris Effect. It is one of the principles he identifies in The Happiness Advantage.
Please continue to improve the world for yourself, loved ones and your patients. And, notice the positive around you; this will improve your experience and have a ripple effect to others. Let us know how you balance these two aspects in your life.
To learn more about how you can revitalize your life, contact me.
Dina 203.744.YOU3 (9683)
