Written by Kathy Fauble, Professional Education Services Director
Walking out the office door yesterday, I said to Liz with a sigh, “I will write a blog tomorrow. I have nothing encouraging to say.” With a laugh she replied, “Tomorrow is another day!” And there it was, a blog inspiration!
If you are a fan of the 1930’s movie Gone with the Wind, you know “tomorrow is another day” as the line Scarlett O’Hara said at the end of the movie as her husband walked out on her. Not one to wallow in self-pity, Scarlett knew the only way forward was onward. She understood adversity is everywhere, but it is our choice how to respond.
Owning the Day
So now, today is the day to conquer! I have a quote on my file cabinet by Ralph Waldo Emerson that says, “Write in your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.” Do you focus on fret and anxiety or owning the day? It’s not easy, especially when you work in healthcare where people’s lives are in the balance, and we have huge demands on our day and time. But we live in a culture that talks about stress and anxiety in the workplace all the time. I’m not saying it’s not there, but if that is what we focus on that is where our energy is. Worrying that you can’t leave at the end of the day manifests itself in on-going anxiety. When you are leading from anxiety you are less focused, more irritable, less engaged, more focused on failure than success, and less likely to advance in your career. The challenge is to change your thought pattern a little bit and instead of focusing on “I’m so stressed out” focus on thinking “today is a new day, and it is a gift.”
No Nonsense
No matter where we are on our leadership journey, we let doubts creep in and we can let the narrative of our lives be controlled by what we have done wrong more than what we have done right. Shifting your thinking to believing each day is a new start benefits you and those on your team. Emerson is right when he says, “finish every day and be done with it” and don’t be “cumbered with your old nonsense.”
Oh, Scarlett! “Tomorrow IS another day!” What a great line! It doesn’t get any better than to see every day as an opportunity. This week make it your goal not to focus on perceived blunders or absurdities and to let go of anxiety. Focus instead on the work that needs to be done and do your very best. Then walk out the door with a smile on your face and the confidence of knowing that you have the strength to take on whatever comes your way...tomorrow.
