The Uncomfortable Zone

How many steps forward does it take to zero out any backwards steps? I’ve heard it takes ten compliments to balance the effects of one criticism. I recently came across this quote: “Dear Heart, it is my duty to inform you that our nervous system becomes overwrought when you allow yourself to feel hurt by every small thing that happens. Stop it now! Sincerely, your brain.”

So all is humming along nicely and we have mastered the new policies and procedures and we know what is expected of us each day. Then a new policy appears, or a new version of the old policy. Or someone has a new idea that pushes us out of our comfort zone. What’s wrong with the old way anyhow?

And so do we take three giant steps back? And the attitude is now “I knew this was too good to be true, they always have to shake things up and don’t care about us.” But over the years I’ve always noticed that there is always one person who will shake me out of my funk. They are the ones I can count on to see the bright side. They are the ones who take the time to explain their point of view and introduce an element of empathy that I hadn’t taken the time to consider because my ego had shut all the other doors.

It reminds me of the end of a Robert Frost poem … “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.”

I think we are blessed at Inova to have many who are willing to take the attitude road often less traveled elsewhere. We have many who are open to change and willing to grow. But occasionally we all slip and I ask that when you see a colleague struggling with adapting to change, be the rare individual to bring them around. Don’t buy into the negativity or ignore it. Stop and ask what’s bothering them and offer a change of attitude. I continually have to stop and remind myself that when my brain gets on the wrong train, I don’t have to ride it to the end of the line, but am free to get off at anytime.