This weekend, I headed out for a much-needed hike on my favorite forest loop, Reader. I was ready to surround myself in the exquisiteness of a gorgeous, almost-fall day.
Except the gnats were terrible.
They flew in my mouth and up my nose, buzzed in my ears, and rode on my eyelashes. Sometimes, they even tried to drink my sweet, sweet eye juices (am I the only one who remembers this quote from The Simpsons?).
FYI, swiping at the gnats for several minutes was futile.
So, being the prepared hiker I am, I whipped out my Bug Bands, one for my backpack's shoulder strap and one for my ankle. They had absolutely no effect. Next, I slathered on a natural insect repellent I had been assured was "amazing!" It seemed to help for all of two minutes, but mostly, it just made me smell like lemon Pledge.
Then, I decided to turn up my mindful awareness and intentionally focus on enjoying nature while tuning out the gnats.
It worked! Just kidding.
I realized I had two options:
- Cut my hike short and ditch the forest.
- Do my best to enjoy the hike, gnats and all.
Life is like this. There are days (sometimes weeks and months) when our frustrations persist even when we've tried everything.
Your career in healthcare is no different.
When working with fellow introverts, I start by helping them identify all the ways they can improve their current situation. Sometimes all it takes is a few tweaks to make work more tolerable, maybe even enjoyable!
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There are other times, however, that clients find themselves still stuck and frustrated despite their most sincere efforts.
This is when it's time to decide if the pain of staying is worth the fear of exploring something new.
There's power in making a decision and going all in.
You can know all the challenges and still have reasons you like for staying.
You can also allow yourself to grieve the career you had hoped for, honor your need for something different, and give yourself permission to explore.
Neither is right or wrong. Both options bring clarity and elevate your autonomy.
Sometimes the greatest gift you can give yourself is recognizing the choice and moving forward with intention.
Know I'm here to walk beside you and support you, no matter which trail you choose. (Though, I may be wearing one of those goofy hats with the built-in bug netting.)
Cheers,
Charity
Champion of Introverts in Healthcare
PS. If you can't bear to waste one more weekend dreading the Monday to come, let's talk. We can brainstorm ways to help you start feeling better or answer any questions you might have about coaching. It's my gift to you. Click here to book now.