Show Compassion for Yourself
Do unto yourself as you would do unto others.
A couple of months ago, I helped a patient stand up. She had been sitting on the floor. “Let me give you a hand,” I said. She must have interpreted that to mean, “Let me LIFT you” because she stopped helping herself.
The pain in my back was excruciating. I could barely move.
But like most of us brave nurses – women – I kept working. Sure, I reported the injury, but i didn’t seek immediate medical attention, because, well, that would have meant that I would need to be replaced. I would leave the unit short of one nurse – I couldn’t do that to my partner, the other nurse working with me…
Whatever my excuse was that day, after a couple of weeks I could no longer deny the pain in my back and the burning down the back of my thigh. I finally sought medical care and am continuing with treatment today.
I could certainly come up with several rationalizations and reasons why I waited but they would all be excuses…And they would be wrong!
If this same incident happened to anyone else, I would have insisted they get medically evaluated immediately, especially given the shape I was in. And if they refused, I probably would have asked the supervisor to come and evaluate their need for immediate care.
What is the message here? That I care about YOU, but not about me???
Shame on me.
What makes anyone more important than anyone else – including me!? What makes you and your health more important than my own?
And I know better! I wrote the book on honoring yourself.
You are the most important person in your life. Without you, what do you have?
In my case, PAIN. I have pain. And inconvenience.
As health care professionals, we must start treating ourselves with as much love and understanding as anyone else. We need to treat ourselves well so that we can share the best of ourselves with others.
It does no one any good if we are suffering or are in pain.
If it seems like I am angry, I am. But I can forgive myself. We all make mistakes. This is one mistake I won’t make again! And I want for you to learn from my situation to avoid the painful consequences.
I vow to take better care of myself so I have the energy and can give my best efforts – I will put myself first so that I can give all I have to my family and YOU, my clients and my readers.
The world needs us to be our best so that we can share our talents and skills.
What about you? Will you commit to taking better care of yourself – before something bad happens and you have to? What are some simple things you can do – starting today – to improve your health?
Let’s get healthier together! Let me know what you are willing to do and let’s hold each other accountable. Together, let’s learn to practice compassion and empathy on ourselves; after all, we are so good at giving it to others!
Today, identify one thing that bothers you or an area of health that you have neglected (perhaps a doctors appointment or medical test), and choose to do something about it. Your health won’t wait.
Your partner for success,
Coach Julie, RN ~ Nurturing Your Success
PS Share with me your personal challenge via email and I will share with you my personal goal so we can get healthy together!
