After moving into our new building this week, I realized how rooted I have been in my patterns and my environment. I had been in the same office for 17 years. Although the move was simple; emotionally and physically I still feel a little out of place. That’s what inspired me to write this article.
As they say, the only things certain are death and taxes. But now there is a third thing: change! Oddly, “change is constant” in that is happening in and around us at all times. Every cell in our body is different from a couple of years ago and a couple of years before and yet another couple of years before that. Basically, we reinvent ourselves in numerous cycles over our lifetime.
Even though that change takes place on a cellular level, change needs to take place on the physical and emotional levels as well.
Many nurses are the same way. They stay with their jobs even though they’re not happy because it’s their “comfort zone” and they want to avoid any change.
Unfortunately, whether they want to or not, many are forced to change. If you happen to see the proverbial “handwriting on the wall,” make the change yourself before it is thrust upon you. If you’re just unhappy and there is nothing written on the wall, there still are many other places where you can get into a healthier environment.
I look at change as I would see a river. You can float peacefully with the current or you can try to swim upstream by holding onto the past and things that no longer serve you. The choice is yours.
My decision is to float peacefully down the stream in the direction that life takes me but not afraid to use my oars to course-correct if I float toward the rocks and logs that may try to disturb my peace.
Pain is necessary but suffering is optional. We can take the pain of moving upward in changing our circumstances in a positive way or suffer by remaining unhappy in an unhealthy environment.
Again, the choice is yours.
Please share your comments below.
Laurie Romano says
Yes. I like this article.
We can either be proactive or reactive, take control of our lives or let circumstances control us.
We can have a much greater say in our destiny if we recognize it is composed of our choices.
Sheila West says
Thanks Lori for your heartfelt message. It is so true what you have said of change.
Your note is spot on for me. I am a nurse who did what I loved. Acute neuro ortho rehab bedside nursing had been my specialty for the past 21 years. I had reached the end of my hospital career run in my university town in Urbana-Champaign, IL.
It was most heartbreaking for me to lose my job after 39 years of mostly full time hospital work. I thought that I would make it to my 62 nd birthday and then retire. Yes, things changed. I thought that it would be no problem as I had been through three merges before within the same system. I saw the writing on the wall but kept hanging in there. It was just in time when the management team “helped me leave my job”. I think the director and others helped save my life. I am well now and happily retired. Wow! Now I have found a new direction in Depression Bipolar Support Alliance groups. I have learned more about myself about maintaining my mental health and helping others too!
Thank you again Lori as u have explained empowered nursing topics before in your work. You and your guest educators have helped me through your excellent webinars on different nursing issues.
Happy Spring and a Belated Happy Nursing Week!
Sheila West RN BSN