Those who give must also receive, or their energy cannot be sustained.
Granted, for a while most of us have the capacity as professionals to give without an emotional or energetic return above and beyond a paycheck.
After all, it feels good to give, and to have our skill and talent well-utilized.
To have a job and a role where we know what to do, do it well, and see people helped,
provides its own reward.
There is a fulfilling sense of pride both in self-accomplishment and being part of a well-organized team.
But what if parts of this equation aren't working so well?
For example...
what if...
...the system wasn't supporting your ability to really be with your patient,
and to feel the satisfaction of a job well done?
...the time-window for patient-encounter was so brief that the concept of personally connecting in some way with each person seemed more like a burden rather than a joyful anticipation?
...you had fewer experiences of feeling like an instrument for helping return a person after disease or accident to an active, healthy and whole life, and more often a sense of being part of a system that provided less and less actual human caring while becoming more efficient at preserving and extending physical life?
Time to Connect
what if...
...the denial of the inevitability of death, rather than the recognition of its natural role in life, led to a feeling of failure when someone died on your watch?
...the reluctance to talk about your experiences around death and dying further reinforced your sense of aversion?
...death and dying held opportunities for meaningful experiences, but you missed them simply by being afraid, inexperienced, or caught up in your own unexpressed grief?
Time to Appreciate
what if...
...you felt over-stressed but under-utilized?
...you were required to work in areas where you didn't feel qualified?
...you were working elsewhere from where your passion lay?
Time to Renew
what if...
...there simply wasn't time or space to rest, or to reflect on daily events at work or in your personal life which may have deeply touched you ?
...the team, unit or floor where you work wasn't efficient, fun or happy?
...the culture itself prevented you from showing any vulnerability, from relaxing your guard, needing you always to be 'on', 'together', alert to everything going on around you, so that at times no one was left 'minding the store' of your self?
Time to Enjoy
If and when any of this has occurred for you, consider the wisdom of 'the art of receiving' for yourself and your staff.
At Companion Arts...
We honor the human heart of caregiver and patient, nurse and physician, manager and employee.
We support best clinical practice and policies designed to assure optimum patient outcomes.
We trust that in each present moment a regenerating experience for both patient and practitioner is possible.
We view compassion and presence as qualities which can transform 'another patient on the list' into a potential gift, story, or memorable connection.
We recognize the power of music and the arts to both relax and inspire while easing the delivery of information.
We acknowledge there are many approaches to meaning and peace.
Care for the Journey...
offers a platform of educational innovations which support a human-scale perspective in healthcare.
When you're feeling you've lost the meaning,
Care for the Journey holds up a mirror to your inner flame.
When you forget your purpose,
Care for the Journey reminds you of the wisdom within you.
When you believe that the problems can never change,
Care for the Journey encourages you to be the change you want to see.
Care for the Journey is about healing the healers, caring for the caregivers, and giving gifts to the givers.
To implement these ideas necessitates re-prioritizing practitioner support both in the minds of practitioners themselves and at an administrative level.
Such a shift will ultimately affect both employee and customer loyalty in a positive way, but the process will require longterm vision and allocation of resources on the part of management.
To this end we engage with leading-edge healthcare practitioners, consultants and administrators in developing a 'Leadership Edition' of our Audio Resource as a tool to help managers shift toward a more sustainable model.
Currently, we offer Care for the Journey: Messages and Music for Sustaining the Heart of Healthcare, an audio CD which helps remind the listener- nurse, physician, social worker, chaplain, therapist, or manager- of who they are and what they are doing.
If any of the ideas or practices contained in the Care for the Journey resources and programs can be helpful on your journey, and the journey of those you serve, we are grateful.
For you who go forth with the courage to care for yourself and others, we say, "thank you".
Sincerely,
Michael Stillwater
Co-Founder/Executive Director
