Tag / Self-improvement

by tracycpoetry

In The Middle of Changes

I wrote the comments below to share on LinkedIn. But I am sharing them as a blog post as well because the principles of navigating change and respect for those in the midst of change apply to so many areas of life….

If a job doesn’t fit, it is still a great organization and you are still an amazing professional and person. Professional growth and personal growth are rarely linear and are sometimes rife with unpredictable stops and starts.

I have had seasons where I’ve stayed with the same organization for 5 to 15 years. But in my most recent 4 years, I have worked for 4 different organizations. I am learning that is not failure. It is simply what life demands and how growth looks sometimes.

I left one of my most amazing work families (who still remain some of my closest friends) to try something I had never done before… only to find it was not a fit.

During my father’s illness and death I completely stepped away from leadership roles for a season to give my self time to care, grieve, and heal.

Next…. A brief season back on the frontlines of healthcare reminded me why I was drawn into the fields of Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety in the first place. I have a unique gift for seeing what needs to be changed in healthcare and for bringing people together to make those changes. And now I am ready to use that gift again.

I share my story to challenge all of us to not be hard on ourselves during times of change and transition.

Also…. If you are a recruiter or other hiring leader, I challenge you not to quickly toss a resume or CV aside if you see frequent role changes or a short length of stay in a position. Sometimes, knowing when it is time to go shows more professional excellence than staying.

by tracycpoetry

Glimmers & Triggers

As a survivor of pretty intense bullying as a child from K-12 and some other trauma in my adult life, I am very familiar with the term “triggers.”

But it is only recently that I have started seeing a term out there for a precious gift that has helped me navigate through those triggers and live a beautiful (though sometimes messy) life.

In the same way triggers can transport us to a place of panic and survival mode, glimmers transport us to a place of thriving, peace, joy, and a greater connection to the deep inner strength of our Maker.

The best thing about glimmers?? You can choose to surround yourself with them and train yourself to see them. 

We really can’t control triggers since they are so specific to the way we are individually wired and can be something we face often in day-to-day life. 

But glimmers?? We can stir those things up! 

There is good reason you see so many photos of sky and birds and such on my blog and social media feeds. Yes, I’m glad other people are blessed by them sometimes. But those are glimmers I seek out for myself…. Medicine for the depths of my soul.

My challenge to us today: Let’s focus so much on the glimmers of grace and beauty our Maker so masterfully surrounds us with. In doing this, those glimmers will begin to soften the blows of the triggers.

Peace, friends!

by tracycpoetry

Obsessing Over Outcomes

As I sat outside this morning watching birds and preparing myself mentally for the week ahead, I thought I bit about the weeks behind. I thought most about how I spent my time. My burnt up life minutes tend not to be from what I do, but from what I do after I do. 🤷‍♀️ Let me explain….

I’ll work hard at work for a great referral that doesn’t end up working out. But instead of a quickly assessing and learning what I can do better the next time around, I might spend hours mentally beating myself up and negatively impacting the things I’m doing now.

And posting online on my days off is not the problem. I’m a creative, a writer, and a blogger. It’s a great outlet. The problem comes when after I submit the post, I go back again and again looking for likes and other positive feedbacks or spinning downward because it’s not doing as well as I has hoped.

My goal for this day, this week, this moment is to do, create, be and then release. Once it’s out there, I’ll only hurt myself if I sit and obsess and don’t let that outcome go.

And, as they often do…. My thoughts turned into a little poem….

When I take an honest look 
At the time I spend
And the time I waste
It's not so much doing a thing
That takes my time away
It's when I do a thing
But then don't release
And keep obsessing over the outcome
Like checking for likes again and again
Or beating myself up over
The account I didn't win
That is the danger zone
Where my future could fade
Into my own obsessions
by tracycpoetry

Essential Elements of Effective Communication & Leadership

I’ve been a self help and leadership training junkie for quite some time. I have noticed some themes summed up in the 3 words above that seem to be essential ingredients if we are to lead and communicate well in whatever we do.

Incidentally, my most current read (the framework in which the amazing company I work for functions) is:

Even if you aren’t reading it for work like I am, you may find it very helpful. To me, this seems more like a simple framework that’s easy to apply rather than just the latest trending business book. I see it’s principles applied throughout Enhabit Home Health and Hospice and I am truly impressed!

I don’t just want to keep being a consumer of the latest work wisdom, but I want to live out solid principles throughout the rest of my career and my life.

by tracycpoetry

Mindset Matters: Weather Checks Before Running and Other Such Nonsense

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Time to get back out and excercise. Wait… first, let me check the weather.

But for someone reason this morning I asked myself, “Why do I check the weather before I head outside to exercise?”

To be honest…  before these thoughts this morning my “pre-run weather checks” were really the time I took to find an excuse not to do what I need to do.  Evidence of this is the fact that I haven’t gone running in weeks even though I actually like to run and feel and function oh-so-much better when I do.  “Hmmmm….” go my thoughts, “It’s a little too hot or a little too cold. Wait!! Is that a raindrop?!??   Better wait for better weather!”

STOP IT, TRACY!! (And yes, I meant to use italicized all caps right there. Sometimes I need to yell at myself).  No more making time to find excuses. Of course I do need to check the weather. I live in North Texas. Within the same week I may need to wear rain gear, shorts and a tank top, or a parka. But my mindset for my weather check needs to be “How do I need to prepare for what I’m about to do?” instead of “Why I probably shouldn’t do this today.”

So, see you in a bit. I’m headed outside to become a better version of me. Join me??

by tracycpoetry

Sometimes It’s Good to “Go Around In Circles”

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“Purity leads us to fervent prayer & fervent prayer leads us to purity.” – @PriscillaShirer #SomeCyclesAreGood #GetCaughtUpInHIM

(BTW…. In my humble opinion, the book Fervent is a “must read” for every woman)