Hello to all,
With Thanksgiving only a few days away, the topic of gratitude is timely. Gratitude is something that can be learned and should be practiced, not just on the holiday, but always. Being grateful for the positive things in our lives helps build resilience, social connection and helps us find meaning in our lives. When we are stressed, we forget to pause and examine the positive things we experience. For example, when a patient thanks you for taking good care of them, or a colleague helps you with a task. Stop for a moment and appreciate the positive emotion associated with that action. An active gratitude practice not only has health benefits, but will increase your life satisfaction, your connection to others in and out of work, and will even improve your sleep. There are many ways to practice gratitude. Here are a few that you can use:
Keep a gratitude journal. This will help you reframe difficult situations and train your emotions to find positivity.
Self-reflection: Take a minute after an interaction or event and think about something positive associated with it.
Emotional debriefing: This is especially important after a trauma or code-blue. Be the person that initiates it and have the group discuss what went right. Even if a patient does not make it, acknowledging that you did your best and treated them with respect and dignity means a lot.
If you are interested in learning more about gratitude, read "Enjoy Every Sandwich: Living Each Day as If It Were Your Last" by Dr. Lee Lipsenthal. I am truly grateful to work with such an amazing team. You work hard every day and deal with circumstances that are difficult at best. Despite that, you maintain your positivity, empathy and sense of humor. Thank you.
Stay safe. Have a wonderful week, and a Happy Thanksgiving! We've got a lot to be grateful for!
Best, Dr. Heidi Levine
This week's events: https://events.longisland.com/daterange/week/ https://events.discoverlongisland.com/calendar https://longislandweekly.com/ https://mommypoppins.com/long-island Picture credit: https://www.mindful.org/gratitude-changes-brain/
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