Welcome back! After a month of looking at Chronic Illness, we learned that taking care of ourselves is very important. When you are on an airplane, you are instructed to put on your own oxygen mask FIRST, so that you may then help others. We should be mindful of our own self care, yes, even ahead of the needs of others. Unless we are well, we cannot help others to find wellness.
Our guest DO this month is Laura Rosch, DO, FACOI, CS. She brings a wealth of experience to our journey, and we are very thankful to her for volunteering to write and facilitate this month’s topic. Please welcome her!
The pace of our lives can be very frantic.
We spend so much time on paperwork, planning, checking emails, getting groceries, taking the kids to school, cleaning the garage, squeezing in another patient, answering phone calls, writing blogs…..
You get the picture.
So when have you ever taken the time to do absolutely nothing? (Sleeping doesn’t count– I know how your minds work)
Our mind is a wonderful, amazing treasure. We spend more time filling out the application for our passports than taking inventory of what our mind needs to stay healthy. Taking care of the mind brings such clarity, efficiency and focus. A healthy mind can solve problems, make decisions and control how we view the events in our life. Finally, a healthy mind can regulate our creativity and harness our love for the work we do. It may be the answer to physician burn-out.
In our busy days, we can become very distracted and forget to notice the beauty and wonder around us. When I take my dog Moose out for a walk, and I am standing outside shivering in the Chicago snow, Moose will chase after the snowflakes and smell every stick on the parkway. He reminds me to look around at where I am in this moment. I am grateful. When I see a bright-eyed baby in a highchair at a restaurant and they are fascinated by the new sounds and smiling faces that surround them – I notice.
These events give pure joy to your day, and they are free if you take advantage of them.
Many people think that being mindful is tuning out all the undesired and hurtful thoughts, but it isn’t. Being mindful is like stepping back away from your mind and observing how it thinks. You must not judge your thoughts, just be patient and kind and observe them. This reminds me of a saying-
Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words. Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions. Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits. Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character. Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny. — Chinese proverb, author unknown
Meditation is a way to help you step back from your busy day and acquire perspective. It is hygiene for the mind. It is a way to be present and live in the moment. It is sheer bliss.
My friends, find a way to strike out a balance between your focus on tasks… and the relaxation of your thoughts. Sit back, take 10 minutes to relax and enjoy the moment.
Wonderful thoughts!! Thank you Laura for this blog.
If you want to learn more….consider reading Jon Kabat Zinn’s book..Full Catastrophy Living…this book opened my mind to the benefits of mindfulness. Another excellent resource is The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress Free Living by Amit Sood. Thank you Dr. Rosch for this blog. This is one of the best paths to prevent burnout. And anyone practicing mindfulness will enhance their own life.