Since when have hospitals become so concerned with patient satisfaction that we now are giving concierge-type care instead of doing what’s necessary to save people’s lives? We have gone from a society of small community hospitals where the focus was on truly taking care of the patients to huge corporations where the focus is more on making sure patients are happy rather than providing quality care.

Many of our actions are focused on whether others will like us or what they will think of us. We, as people, have a fear of not being liked or having our ideas rebuffed or ignored. We feel that we can train ourselves to not express who we really are to be accepted by others.

When someone likes or validates us, that really is one of the best feelings in the world because what we really are seeking is approval from other people.

When we are so focused on what other people think, it gives us little or no room to be ourselves and express ourselves to our fullest extent. We all have it. I always wonder while writing these newsletters what you will think about the article. Will you read it? If so, are you going to resonate with my message?

But, I have to let that go! I have to speak my truth and know that what I am saying will impact you and others for whom it is meant to impact.

Any time you catch yourself worrying about what others think, pause for a moment. Don’t let that stop you from being you and sharing what you need to share. Express yourself in a way that matters to you. The people who like you will still like you and those who don’t, dismiss them from your mind.

My articles are designed to be thought provoking because so many times we try to conform to the so-called “norms” and think like others instead of thinking for ourselves. Be yourself and take that risk to be who we were meant to be and trust that others will still like you as you are.