What's Your Story?
Stories are a great way to share information with others. They allow us to learn from the experiences of others. They are able to shape our opinions moving forward. They can push us to challenge our values and beliefs. These newsletters have focused on telling stories for years.
Earlier this week, I came across a Tweet from one of my favorite authors, James Clear.
This Tweet really resonated with me. We all have stories. Those stories have the power to either lift us up or tear us down. We have to choose which stories we will listen to.
What does Mr. Clear mean by "story?" My interpretation of "story" in Clear's tweet is our inner monologue. It is the story that we are telling ourselves about who we are. You are the person who has the most impact on that inner monologue. However, others around you can have a great deal of impact on that story too. We have to choose who we listen to and who we need to ignore to make sure that our "story" continues to be a healthy and productive one.
Since we opened the office doors in 2015, we have had the opportunity to help a lot of patients. Every one of those patients comes with their own story before even entering our office. Typically the most challenging patients to help are the ones that have seen countless specialists before they make it into our office. They have been told, in great detail, everything that could possibly be causing the pain that they are experiencing. They have had every test imaginable and told all about each potential issue that the tests have revealed.
Time for a couple of questions...
Is inundating them with all of that information actually helping them?
What impact does all of that information have on their "story?"
Do you think that it increases the stress and anxiety surrounding their pain? Or do you think it gives them relief?
What story are they are telling themselves after hearing all of that information?
When does that story end? Will they ever stop listening to that story?
Frequently in the office, we tell patients that we are far more concerned with what we can do to make them feel better, and far less concerned with what is making them hurt. It is not that we, as the doctors, don't need to know what is causing the pain. We do because it will drive our treatment. However, we then choose to focus our time and attention on the things that will help our patients improve the rest of their own story, rather than those things that will continue to make the rest of their story scarier.
Choose to change your story!
Stories are a great way to share information with others. They allow us to learn from the experiences of others. They are able to shape our opinions moving forward. They can push us to challenge our values and beliefs. These newsletters have focused on telling stories for years.
Earlier this week, I came across a Tweet from one of my favorite authors, James Clear.
This Tweet really resonated with me. We all have stories. Those stories have the power to either lift us up or tear us down. We have to choose which stories we will listen to.
What does Mr. Clear mean by "story?" My interpretation of "story" in Clear's tweet is our inner monologue. It is the story that we are telling ourselves about who we are. You are the person who has the most impact on that inner monologue. However, others around you can have a great deal of impact on that story too. We have to choose who we listen to and who we need to ignore to make sure that our "story" continues to be a healthy and productive one.
Since we opened the office doors in 2015, we have had the opportunity to help a lot of patients. Every one of those patients comes with their own story before even entering our office. Typically the most challenging patients to help are the ones that have seen countless specialists before they make it into our office. They have been told, in great detail, everything that could possibly be causing the pain that they are experiencing. They have had every test imaginable and told all about each potential issue that the tests have revealed.
Time for a couple of questions...
Is inundating them with all of that information actually helping them?
What impact does all of that information have on their "story?"
Do you think that it increases the stress and anxiety surrounding their pain? Or do you think it gives them relief?
What story are they are telling themselves after hearing all of that information?
When does that story end? Will they ever stop listening to that story?
Frequently in the office, we tell patients that we are far more concerned with what we can do to make them feel better, and far less concerned with what is making them hurt. It is not that we, as the doctors, don't need to know what is causing the pain. We do because it will drive our treatment. However, we then choose to focus our time and attention on the things that will help our patients improve the rest of their own story, rather than those things that will continue to make the rest of their story scarier.
Choose to change your story!
Movement is my medicine,
