Since this is a nursing blog dedicated to helping busy nurses shift their inner perspectives so they can further enjoy their nursing career environments, I don’t post too often about family ‘stuff’. Sure I refer to my family from time-to-time, briefly touching on what’s happening with me. However I try to keep these posts relevant to uplifting our nursing careers and less about me.
That being said, I had a wonderful thing happen this past Mother’s Day weekend from something my father said to me.
In case you’re new to reading and following this nurse blog, I’ll share very briefly that in previous posts I have discussed dealing with negative nay-sayers. What I mean by this is those people who are always trying to put down your healthy choices and lifestyle shifts.
Sadly, my father has been one of those people for me.
I’m not sure where things went awry since my Dad and I were like BFFs when I was growing up. I loved playing basketball with him out in the driveway. I was proud to wear my hot pink corvette jacket to his car shows. Fixing things, making stuff (like my very own dollhouse) and being creative were always a really great time with him. And of course, the dancing. We used to dance in my kitchen together all of the time.
Fast-forward to more recent times.
As I started training in Reiki practice and studying Yoga, he was not on board. When I talked about healthy eating and all of the things I learned at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, he was not a fan. I literally felt like I could not share anything I enjoyed with him anymore.
Until this weekend.
We were having lunch on Saturday and our plan was to head to our favorite nursery for some perennials after the meal. As we started eating our food it got very dark and the heavens opened. Rain started pouring down, beating upon the windows of the restaurant.
I said to the group, “Look over there. There seems to be some brightness just to the south. Maybe it will clear up after we finish eating and we can still head to the plant shop.”
My father’s response: “Boy, you sure must be an optimist to think of it that way.”
My heart leapt with joy! I was filled with love, pride and satisfaction. My Dad saw the optimist in me. The very thing I have been working so hard at for the last several years to shift. I used to be the perpetual Negative Nancy Nurse. I was always thinking the worst of every situation. My mind was consumed with lack, fear and doubt.
So three main teaching points for today’s blog post:
1) You can change. If you want to let go of your own Negative Nancy Nurse that may be secretly living inside of you- you can! Any and every one of us can change. We just have to want it, be motivated to and consciously choose it.
2) You can shift people through your actions, not your words. Sure words can help- if the person is open to listening to them. However you can shift anyone’s perspective just by staying true to being you and role modeling the positive behaviors.
3) Be yourself, no matter what. It may take time. Lots of it. Yet those who are meant to stay with you along your journey will come around. As long as you are showing up as your authentic nature, it will get easier and easier and easier. Avoid being swayed by those who aren’t ‘there’ yet with your healthy choices. Just keep being you and the ones who are meant to will come around.
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I’d love to hear from you. What comments or questions does this blog post bring up for you? Go ahead and leave a note below. Thank you for reading and enjoy your health today.
Thanks for the reminder. It’s so easy to slip back into some of those negative thoughts. It’s a slow process but little by little, step by step it DOES get easier to be more of a Positive Patty!