While we're pausing to honor the military personnel who’ve sacrificed their lives for our freedom, it's also a good time to note that some of our Armed Forces have been serving in some capacity while battling for the health of our nation during the Covid-19 pandemic. From military doctors and nurses, members of the Armed Forces helping with vaccine distributions, and those who don't have the option to work from home during the global health crisis, we're grateful for their courage and service. (Mattern, 2021) We’re also grateful for the leadership, courage, and service of other heroes and she-roes in our lives, and while this day is focused on the Military, we cannot forget the others who have had an impact on our lives. For example, highly effective leaders energize others by noticing and recognizing the accomplishments of their subordinates. We all draw a lot of energy from sincere recognition and honest appreciation of the efforts we put into our daily lives and jobs. (Clemmer, 2021) Recognition of our co-workers, friends, and family members will help to reinforce the right set of behaviors, especially during uncertain times, but it also helps others see how their values and their contributions add to the success of their relationships, their work environments, and their families to help drive even stronger engagement. (Lyon, 2020) On this Memorial Day, 2021, it is important to remember and celebrate those who have gone before us in service to ensure our freedom and safety. It is also important to recognize the others in our lives who have impacted our futures. The world is opening up again after more than a year of isolation and sacrifice as we battled the pandemic. Remember those who made this re-opening possible. Happy Memorial Day everyone References
Clemmer, J. (2021). The Power of Recognition, Appreciation, and Celebration. Retrieved from The Clemmer Group: https://www.clemmergroup.com/articles/power-recognition-appreciation-celebration/ Lyon, K. (2020, June 16). A Culture of Recognition - WHy We Need to Celebrate Now More Than Ever. Retrieved from Great America Financial Services: https://www.greatamerica.com/blog/a-culture-of-recognition-why-we-need-to-celebrate-now-more-than-ever Mattern, J. L. (2021, May 27). 44 Memorial Day Quotes to Make You Proud to Be an American. Retrieved from Country LIving: https://www.countryliving.com/life/g4398/memorial-day-quotes/
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Something we do as processors of information being presented to us is to examine our beliefs. Doing this is a form of questioning that will bring our internal thought processes into the forefront. Some questions to ask as we analyze our beliefs include:
Questioning is a form of creativity in thinking. Creativity adds beauty to life. Creativity is an exploration of our inner selves. It’s a higher level of thinking. Once we discover our curiosity it reveals our sense of empowerment which unleashes our uniqueness to express ourselves and to help us see the world in a new way. As human beings we are vessels of various emotions from happy to sad. We are full of thoughts and ideas that inhabit us with energy. To maintain our emotional well-being, we need to exercise our creativity and one of the best ways to do this is to ask questions about everything. (Pullman A. , A Cool and Relaxed Life, 2017) “Questioners,” according to Dr. Sheila Embry, “become resources for other people as they enjoy sharing the knowledge they’ve gained. They are very interested in improving processes and making things run better.” (Embry, 2021) There is an exercise you can do when trying to resolve a problem, whether at work or in your personal life. When we wish to discover the root cause of an issue, questioning is the best way to get to the bottom of things. Of course, just asking one question will not get us very far, and could, in fact, result in an unsatisfactory resolution to the problem. There is an exercise called the 5 Whys – sort of reminiscent of talking to a five-year old. Why? Why? Why? Here’s how it works: Start with the issue. For today’s post we will use an issue concerning electronics and electricity, but you can apply the principle of the 5 Whys to almost any issue that requires a root cause analysis. Issue: The computer will not start.
The whole idea of becoming a questioner and exploring other options than those we are familiar with is to become more informed about our beliefs, our thoughts, and how we act upon them. Going through life asking only basic questions without digging down to the underlying issues will only result in frustration and unsatisfactory decisions. Applying creativity to the questioning process will result in better solutions. ReferencesEmbry, S. (2021, May 14). Questioners. Retrieved from Sheila Says ... The Daily Report: https://sheilaembry.wordpress.com/2021/05/14/questioners/ Handel, S. (n.d.). The Power of Asking Yourself Questions. Retrieved from The emotion machine: https://www.theemotionmachine.com/the-power-of-asking-yourself-questions/ Pullman, A. (2017, July). A Cool and Relaxed Life. Retrieved from Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Cool-Relaxed-LIFE-Audrey-Pullman/dp/1647490766/ Seiter, C. (2018, September 9). The 5 Whys Process We Use to Understand the Root of Any Problem. Retrieved from Buffer: https://buffer.com/resources/5-whys-process/ How many times has someone given you praise for something you did and you responded with something like, “Oh, I was just doing my job.” Or “It was nothing.” Or “You would have done the same.” We all do this. It’s easy to give praise, isn’t it? But why is it so hard to accept praise with grace? Part of the reason is we have been taught to not appear vain or immodest. Perhaps we are afraid our achievements will provoke envy in others. Take a look at the quote by Nelson Mandela to the right. He said that when we shine our own lights, we are giving permission to others to shine their own lights. (Holly, 2019) What is important here is that we develop a Praise Culture. Think about the last time you were scheduled for your annual performance review. Did you dread it? Were you expecting to hear criticism or suggestions of areas to improve your performance? Probably. How about that time, when in a general meeting with the entire staff and your supervisor praised you directly in front of everyone! How intimidating was that? Finding the right balance between pride and vanity is the key to accepting praise gracefully. We needn’t fear what comes after praise: quite often, praise is simply its own reward, and respect is the only thing that follows. (Gledhill, 2019) Remember to be grateful each time you are presented with a new opportunity. Remember to notice how your decision-making process is improving every day. Day by day. And remember to thank yourself for taking this time to improve your life, using your past successful experiences to build upon your new opportunities. (Pullman A. , A Cool and Relaxed Life, 2017) According to Alice Gledhill’s blog on MindTools.com, “There is absolutely no shame in accepting praise. Genuine messages of admiration are only voiced to those who have earned them. Someone saying, “You did really well,” or, “We couldn’t have done it without you,” has the power to boost your self-esteem and make you feel an inch taller. Not only do the words carry a message of gratitude and recognition, but the thought behind them shows that your efforts are appreciated and not going unnoticed. So, the next time you get the recognition you deserve, don’t hide your pride – own your strengths and try to enjoy the moment. You deserve it! (Gledhill, 2019) References
Gledhill, A. (2019, November 20). Acceotubg Prause - How to Own Your Achievments. Retrieved from MindTools.com: https://www.mindtools.com/blog/accepting-praise/ Holly, K. (2019, March 29). Mental Health Quotes and Sayings. Retrieved from HealthyPlace.com: https://www.healthyplace.com/insight/quotes/mental-health-quotes-and-sayings Pullman, A. (2017, July). A Cool and Relaxed Life. Retrieved from Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Cool-Relaxed-LIFE-Audrey-Pullman/dp/1647490766/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=cool+and+relaxed+life&qid=1615214000&sr=8-1 |
AuthorI am a Performance Enhancement Specialist with a background in Emergency Psychiatric Medicine and Community Addiction. Archives
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