WE DO WHAT WE DO TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE – #BellLetsTalk

You are committed to helping others. Do you remember why you chose this path? Don’t lose sight of that passion. Stop to admire the small victories, and you will see that your efforts make a big difference.

Flourishing
Living within an optimal range of human functioning, one that connotes goodness, generativity, growth, and resilience
– Fredrickson & Losada, Am Psychologist, 2005

Vs.

Languishing
Living a life that is ‘hollow’ or ‘empty’
– Keyes, J of Health Soc Behavior, 2002

 

MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF BASIC HUMAN NEEDS
Self-Actualization
‘Feeling on top of the world’

Self-Esteem
‘I like me’

Love And Belonging
‘I feel all warm and squisy’

Security And Safety
‘I feel safe’

Physiological Needs
‘I’m warm, dry, fed and rested’

Have you heard of the Positivity-Negativity Ratio?  It is the ratio of pleasant to unpleasant ‘feelings, thoughts, and attitudes’ over time.

Experiencing Compassion Satisfaction vs. Compassion Fatigue is based on sustaining an optimistic outlook and creating an environment in which you experience more positives than negatives.

THE POSITIVITY-NEGATIVITY RATIO – THE GOLDEN RULE IS 3:1

Easier said than done? Preventing Compassion Fatigue is easier than overcoming mental and emotional struggles.  Here are some ideas to help you develop and sustain an optimistic attitude.  Baby steps.

Focus on the positive
-concentrate on the things that are working for you
-adapt a ‘glass half full’ attitude. Look for any good you can in each situation – or a way to change a situation into a good one. Find ‘the silver lining’
-put your game face on and play to win
-find positive meaning in negative events-find benefit in adversity
-find hope

Live your life through ‘An Attitude of Gratitude’
-show kindness – express kindness in your words and
-show respect and appreciation
-smile for yourself, and for strangers you pass on the street. Smiles make everyone’s day brighter
-share compliments and commend others on their successes
-carry out little acts of kindness – without expectation
-create a ‘gratitude journal.’ It is impossible to be stressed, depressed and angry, while you are in a state of gratitude

Embrace Life
-assume that all people are honest and compassionate
-be forgiving – give second chances and be grateful to receive them
-be open to the possibilities life has to offer
-believe that your best days are yet to come
-embrace change
-trust in yourself, and the universe your faith (whatever that means to you)

Laugh Out Loud
-laugh with others
-laugh at yourself (and your animal companions)
-laugh when you don’t feel like laughing – try to remember something that makes you laugh and use that to get you through a tough moment
-laughter releases ‘feel good’ endorphins and helps us cope with stress

 

Take what you do seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously
– Staples, Your Life Unlimited, 2013

 

I hope this post finds you when you need it and preferably, before xoxo