This too shall pass…
During my drive home I used my time wisely to listen to a recorded call with my coach I missed last week. The topic blew my mind. She shared about timing, expectations, letting go and allowing flow (not the usual suspects in a business coaching relationship, but extremely welcomed and well-received by me).
I thought about nursing. In the exact moment that she said it: this too shall pass, nursing came to mind.
Isn’t it so fascinating that you really can apply every lesson learned to the nursing world?
Think about a stressful time in your work history.
- Your floor didn’t have enough staff;
- You couldn’t get the supplies you needed;
- A difficult family member shouts at you in the hall;
- Maybe you made a medication error that you cannot get back.
This too shall pass.
Four small words. A short statement. Powerful impact. A gentle reminder that life is never stationary. Everything is constantly evolving, shifting. Changing really.
Continue to harp on what’s ‘wrong’ with the situation and you miss so much beauty.
Nursing ebbs and flows too.
- We’re over staffed or under-census;
- We’ve under-staffed and over capacity;
- We’ve got beds open;
- We need to shut beds down.
No two days are ever the same.
In a moment of terror, in a time of frustration, allow for simple pause. And just notice. This too shall pass.
Where can you allow more flow in your nursing practice? What expectations can you let go of? When can you ease up on tension, frustration and maybe even fear? I’d love to hear your thoughts below. Enjoy your health today. Thanks for reading!
So true! I just said to a family member today who was in a stressful place, “This too shall pass.” I was in a stressful situation myself this weekend and thought I wasn’t going to make it through and then I remembered….breathe! So I went into the break room and just stood there taking several cleansing breaths. In and out, in and out. Eyes closed and relaxed. I then walked back out with a different attitude and fresh outlook. I was going to make it through even if I had to stay overtime. My goal was to slow down, stop the feelings of frustration and take things as they came. It worked, of course! I took my time, managed to get all my work done and give great care to my patients, too.
Marti,
This is an exceptional example of how taking a moment to self, breathing and letting go can invite peace and let the chaos to pass. Thank you for sharing and I am so glad that you were able to help, not only your patients and family members, but also yourself! Enjoy your health today,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth,
Thank you so much…….It is incredible how those 4 little words have brought a sense of calm to a very scary week. I have shared the link to facebook to help my Sisters as well. I live in Louisville, Ky. I have been a ER nurse for 30 years, and over the past week our Hospital corporation has eliminated 500 positions. They have shut my ER down completely. We are lost, and many are facing unemployment. Your articles have sparked an interest in nursing that I had lost a long time ago, and actually given me Hope. I will keep in mind, “that this too will pass, close my eyes, and breathe.
So, thank you again
Hello Maggie,
Thank you for coming by the blog and taking time to read and share what’s happening in your life. I want to commend you for your bravery; what’s happening to you and your colleagues is extremely frightening. You all must feel such a loss, a loss for a job you so loved. You are right, as the wise words give us hope, this too shall pass. We have no way of knowing what’s next yet at the same time, I believe everything happens for a reason. Keep on with trust and faith. Stay open to possibility. Continue with the hope you have embraced.
I so appreciate the kind words about what my articles have done for you. Thank you for the feedback. What you’ve expressed is exactly what I hope to do, to bring back that joy of nursing. To rekindle our relationship with the nurse within. To find the fun in all that we do again.
Enjoy your day,
Elizabeth