3 Secrets To Maximize the New Year!
Well, not so secret . . . . .
The new year always brings so much reflection. This season even more so than before. Our families continue to isolate in order to protect themselves from the pandemic that is ravaging our world. So many families I interact with have been affected. My father’s childhood friend, my 95-year-old neighbor, the stories flood in. I have families who are separated by states and continents from loved ones. Families who have lost their jobs and insurance. Families without support.
It is natural to get caught up in worry and fear but this prevents us from tapping into our innate power and resilience. It prevents us from seeing the joy in the moment and filling up our reserves so that we can continue on during difficult times.
For the last few years, I have ben intentionally working on being more mindful and present in the moment. With our busy family and the practice, I have so many tasks each day that I move slowly or I zip through. But I realize that I am a better human, a better wife, mother, and pediatrician when I intentionally shift my focus in the moment.
I build my mindfulness practice into all that I do on purpose. For example, I start each first-time visit with my new families with several minutes of mindfulness.
Here are 3 “secrets” I have learned from my mindful moments with new patients:
Be here. Right now. There is nothing more to it than that. Tune in to your breath. Tune in to your feelings. It’s simple yet hard. Usually during my mindfulness moments this is a mix of slowing my breathing, tuning into my sweaty palms (I sweat a lot y’all!), telling my shoulders to relax. I push the thoughts of what is for dinner out of my head. It allows me to hear the noises of this particular family and the stirrings of my heart. Yup, I have this amazing little practice. Yup, this new family has honored me with seeing their child. Am I nervous, yup. Am I happy, yup.
If you’re not quiet, you can't hear the laughter (or the farts). During these mindful moments with families I often hear toddlers whispering to their parents. Or an infant giggling. Children often come and sit in my lap or next to me. I have had a few kids rub or hold my hand. And a few times I’ve heard a kid or two fart. They relax. I relax. Their parents laugh. We all laugh. And in that moment we are happy and giggling.
My mindfulness gives others the space to be mindful. So many of my families are stressed, shoot, mine is too. We are running around doing a million things all while isolated and stressed. But if I don’t model mindfulness and give parents the space to sit and breathe, who will? Being present is of the utmost importance for us to be happy. I can’t be happy spending time with a new family if I’m worried about dinner. And a new patient can’t be happy if they are worried about their kitchen being messy. Guess what? My husband is a great chef who will have dinner ready since it’s his night to cook when I’m away. And the family’s kitchen looks like everyone else’s kitchen - well loved and highly used! If I take the time to focus, I help my families focus. This time has created the space for new parents to cry and tell me worries they had forgotten about. Or it allows a 5-year-old to tell me he feels better after doing this breathing. I’ve now shown parents a new tool to use and we are all feeling better.
So, that’s it. Not so secret secrets from Dr. J. Here is to your health and happiness. You’ve got this! We’ve got this!