Monday Moment - Paint a Wall to See Results!

Yesterday, I painted a wall. It was very satisfying. The project had a distinct beginning, middle, and end. I had constant reinforcement regarding the quality of the work I was doing. And at the end, the wall was bright, clean, and new. Very satisfying.

Long ago, I discovered the therapeutic benefits of painting a wall, and I’ve been recommending it ever since – especially to people who are in the helping professions, even more especially to folks whose work is to influence behavior change, and still more to those whose work is with children.

You see, when we attempt to help people, we rarely see the full results of our work. We help by doing our part, which is often a small piece of the entire network required to really deliver the help that people require.

When we attempt to influence behavior change, we may never see the results of our efforts. Those we try to influence may – or may not – implement our suggestions, they may – or may not – make changes today, next week, or next year, and we might not be around to see what happens.

And when we work with kids? Well, the proof of that pudding may take decades to develop. And even then, the intricate web of multiple and diverse influences tangle so it’s darned near impossible to trace the effect of any single action we might have taken.

We get inklings that what we do matters. Sometimes, we even get outpourings of gratitude and appreciation. But the truth is, when we’re in the helping professions, attempting to influence behavior change, and/or working with children, most of the time, we have to act on faith.

We have to believe – and I mean believe down to our toes – that what we do does make a difference in people’s lives. We have to believe it in unflagging fashion, day after day, and work our hearts out to demonstrate our belief. We often have to believe in the face of questions, skepticism, and downright disregard from any number of others and are often required to expend great reserves of energy to convince those others – funders, for example – that our belief is justified. We have to believe our work matters – regardless of tangible, visible evidence.

And we often get tired, even occasionally tempted toward the dark side of self-doubt. That’s when it’s great to see tangible, visible evidence of something we have done. That’s when I know it’s time to paint a wall – to see just how bright, clean, and new I can make that wall. It’s very satisfying.

Here’s wishing you a real – or metaphorical – wall to paint in the coming week!

Sally

Monday Moment - Two Reasons to See My Doc

On Friday, I had my annual doctor’s visit. He did the usual screenings including blood work, pap smear, and breast exam. I walked out knowing that all signs indicate that my systems are working normally, that the mole on my collar bone is nothing to worry about, and that I have less than 4% chance of having a heart attack in the next ten years – down one percentage point from last year’s appointment.

As you might imagine, I walked out of his office feeling good! For two reasons.

One – well, hey, it was all good news. I feel healthy and now I’ve had my good health confirmed by my medical consultant. That’s how I look at my doc. I’ve hired him – because of his expertise and experience – to help me assess and monitor my health.

And two – going to see my doc once a year is an important thing I do for myself. And for anybody who cares about me for that matter. I feel an obligation to take care of myself so that I can be useful, helpful, and able to care for or about anyone else. Seeing my doc – and getting my mammogram and dental checkups – helps me feel like I’m doing something important to be a healthy, contributing member of the world.

I didn’t always feel this way – or act in what I now consider a responsible manner. I grew up in the Dr. Kildare, Marcus Welby days when dear old friends dropped in to see their docs to take care of a hangnail and walked out with a dire, life-threatening diagnosis. Cripes, that was enough to scare me off from making an appointment! That and my all too present tendency to procrastinate.

But once I got off the particular dime I was stalled on and got myself into the office, I got the above-described sense of well-being and I’ve been faithful to my annual visits ever since. It feels good, and I like doing things that help me feel good – in both the immediate and far-flung future.

What will you do this week to help you feel good? Is it time to make an appointment?

Wishing you lots of feeling good in this first week of spring!

Sally