Today I want to revisit reward. Part of being healthy is enjoying and celebrating ourselves. When we appreciate all of the effort we have done, we are more likely to get more of it. So this may sound similar to a post I wrote about two weeks ago… but hear me out.

One of the workshop presenters in the RCII talked about how as nurses we are not so great at tooting our own horns. In fact we shy away from or downplay compliments. I have to agree. I do workshops and have written articles on the balancing act of giving-receiving that nurses struggle with.

What I want to take a moment to discuss here today is breaking this cycle of non-recognition. So bringing together the points from the workshop, my own teachings, and the Laws of Attraction I hope to offer a suggestion to you that you can take and use going forward.

As nurses we do amazing things every single day! Some of us save lives- actually bring people back to and save their lives. Some of us bring life into this world- helping deliver babies and keeping the mothers safe and healthy during birth. Some of us deliver life saving medications via IV lines, NG tubes and other devices that not everyone knows how to use! We are heroes in every single capacity of our work.

Instead of brushing this off and saying “I’m just a nurse” I suggest we celebrate our profession, our roles, and ourselves! Not only once in awhile, but each and every single day.

When someone pays you a compliment, recommends your work, or offers you praise- go ahead and take it! Smile. Feel good about yourself. Say “Thank you” and allow it to really sink in. Realize that you ARE worth those words of recognition.

At the end of every single day sit down and list out three things you did well that day. Each of us is so busy, so fast-paced, and accomplishes so much that we can quickly overlook all that we get done. Be sure to take a moment to recognize yourself for the good you did at the end of every single day.

And finally, when you do celebrate yourself the more likely you are going to have an easier time doing so. The more you receive those compliments, the more comfortable it becomes. And because of the Laws of Attraction- the more that you are able to celebrate your successes the more successes will come your way!

As we learned in August, our thoughts shape how we feel. Our thoughts become our actions. Our actions become our behaviors. The more we do, say or feel something over and over the more we express it to the universe and the more the universe reflects it back to us.

Celebrate yourself. Celebrate you and your successes. The more you do so the more you will have to recognize. The more you reward yourself the healthier you will be!

How can you start today? What is one thing you will do to begin to reward and celebrate yourself each day? How can you see this impacting your overall health and well-being?