Our work takes on a routine and, in many ways, that routine provides a sense of control, a feeling of security. However, routine often acts as a shield, preventing us from pondering what is unpleasant, sad or painful. Work these days is a combination of both.
In our daily lives, too, a fixed structure or routine is a safety net or comfort zone, even if it may not always be that comfortable. Any change, especially unexpected or sudden, makes us vulnerable and panic. Our mind works at an exhausting pace, our inner critic questions everything, and we are gripped with anxiety and fears.
Work these days has an unease about the uncertainty of what the day will bring. Will the national predictions about the peak and the estimated fatalities due to COVID-19 come true?
Wednesday was one of those “routine” days. To promote social distancing, my team of a senior resident, two interns and our clinical pharmacist now meets virtually on a conference call each morning to touch base and plan our work day, identifying the priority tasks. We were all on the call, getting ready to start, when the senior resident team leader said, “Can we start by offering gratitude?” Of course we did. This activity is not new to my team, but usually reserved for the end of the day. All the team members participated.
Gratitude was offered for family, parents, the security of a paycheck, the ability to work from home while schools are out, for the nurses, our patients, the team of our future physicians and others.
After the brief 8-10 minutes, we could hear sounds of deep breaths echoing through the virtual space. We all acknowledged feeling lighter, a weight off our shoulders, energized.
Expressing gratitude felt like lifesaver. I couldn’t help but smile as we shared and listened.
The day felt productive and had an ease and comfort to it.
Later, one team member sent an email and photo:
“Acknowledging what I am grateful for is a relief to the soul and sharing my gratitude aloud with my family and colleagues seems to lighten the load, so to speak. I was especially happy today that we practiced this before starting rounds! As we feel the strain of scheduling changes due to the Coronavirus chaos, I am forced to find innovative ways to carry out my job duties. I am grateful to take a break from working each afternoon, which lately involves moving 10 feet from my “desk” (kitchen table) to the living room to read a book with my kids. Or taking a walk through my community, offering intentional smiles and greetings to my neighbors and others I meet. Or slowing down to teach my children something new and instill an appreciative nature while lecturing on the importance of gratitude. Last weekend my two boys and I planted a small garden and found so much joy in simply being outdoors! Warm weather, sunshine, and plenty of giggles about dirt on our faces and clothes. Understanding that these small things are so immensely meaningful. And it is our duty to pass along this replenished joy and hope so that it may be shared in a way that helps to renew others in a chain of compassion, and encouraging words and actions. This is resilience to me. To acknowledge my stress and anxieties, and to pause to reflect on what is good so that others may be encouraged and renewed in turn.”
We ended our day with a very short walk as it was windy and we were tired. And there it was by the curb, a signpost offering gratitude.
My resident said, “Dr. Panda, this is an idea for your blog. You may want to write that sharing gratitude for us in healthcare, like this sign, really means a lot.
As we walked back to the hospital, we talked about how we remember these gestures and we carry them with us, especially in our difficult and uncertain times and we offer gratitude in turn!
“When some things go wrong take a moment to be thankful for the many more things that are going right.” —Annie Gottlierf
#REFLECT: How could practicing gratitude be therapeutic for anxiety and distress and a channel to calmness and serenity?
How is the coronavirus changing the way you think of self-care, community and resilience? As this challenging time unfolds, I am posting a daily quote on this blog with a reflection prompt. Please join in the conversation here or on Twitter with your thoughts or about what you are doing for self-care and care of others. My new book explores these ideas too: Resilient Threads: Weaving Joy and Meaning into Well-Being.
Gratitude is the balm that soothes the hurting souls and calms the turbulent minds. Practicing gratitude provides satisfaction and a positive state of mind which takes away the psychological aspects of anxiety and distress and promotes calmness and serenity. However, the uncontrolled physical effects of anxiety and distress like fatigue, exhaustion, anorexia, insomnia etc. may need medications. This positive psychological state of mind makes us look at the positive side of things, even when they have gone wrong. It makes us view the glass as half full rather than half empty. We start to think that things could have been worse, that we got away with only a scratch when grave wounds were possible. While looking around, we get convinced how fortunate we are, to be in a relatively better situation. In a positive state of mind when things go wrong and we suffer loss, we realize the value of what we have lost. It is only when things go wrong and we fall that we learn how to get up, something that those who never fall may never learn.
It is not always the God that we turn to with gratitude. There are people with Godly actions who deserve the same reverence, such as those who provide selfless service, who care and share, who appreciate other’s merits and wisdom, who become a beam of light to show the path in surrounding darkness of ignorance. They all are worthy of gratitude.
The knowledge that one is not alone, that there are others to whom one belongs and who are always there in the hour of need assures and calms the mind. We all feel grateful for being there for each other. Gratitude is the best thing, perhaps the only thing at times by which one may repay for the favors of any kind by anyone.
Expression of gratitude shows our humility and our appreciation of kindness. It overcomes fear and anxiety and restores calmness and serenity of mind.
Thank you for an inspiring post and your dedication to healing others! Our Girls Inc. girls made a phenomenal choice several years ago when they selected you as an UnBought and UnBossed honoree! Please let us know how we can help the Erlanger staff. Bea Lurie