Incorporate these 3 Gs
The last year felt like we have been through an entire decade, it’s been a roller coaster to say the least. With these changes it’s been challenging to make a plan knowing it will be the final outcome, causing all of us to live in a perpetual state of anxiety. It wasn’t until I sat down one day and went through my calendar so I could go through the timeline of events of the last year. Once I had this review, I was able to truly appreciate all battles I had to overcome. I was able to appreciate how much I’d grown and everything I still had while so many people lost everything.
I was watching the news and they were talking about navigating the waters as we move into summer with the world opening back up from COVID-19 closures. They were telling us when it comes to summer to ask ourselves, what is it that you want to do or accomplish? For parents, they encouraged asking their kids what they would like to see their summer look like. Last year we didn’t get to have summer the way we know summer. This year it’s our chance to make it however we want it to be. For me, it’s the simple things like being able to go have lunch or dinner with friends. Yours may be getting out of town and playing by some water or in the mountains. Whatever your vision is for summer, plan it out and fit it into your schedule.
Dr. Tara Narula was talking about how she and her husband will sit with their kids at the end of the day and go through their three G’s:
Where did they Glow today?
Where did they or do they need to Grow?
What are they Grateful for today?
Whether you have kids or not, this is probably the best way I can think to end your day. I like to go through these G’s right before I eat (mostly because after I eat, my brain starts to shut off). If you are familiar with Toastmasters or public speaking, this is very similar to the sandwich technique when evaluating a speaker. Start off with a compliment, then give a critique, and finish with another compliment or area they performed well.
Thinking about where you Glowed today is not something we are conditioned to do. All too often we focus on the negative, where we fell short, or where someone criticized us. We all have talents and strengths, the more you focus on your talents and strengths it will help to improve your mental health. It’s important to remember that you answer the phone well, calm down anxious patients, or work well with your team members because it will improve your own self-esteem. If you don’t give yourself praise, it will be hard for others to give you praise. Your internal self-talk affects the way you react to situations. Reviewing your glows everyday will help make sure your self-talk is positive, and an improvement to your well-being.
Recognizing your short comings can help your self-esteem just like giving yourself praise can. However, this can become a slippery slope because it is human nature to be critical to ourselves. Plus, there is a lot of criticism that comes from people in our lives. I would allow yourself to only pick one grow each day, we are trying to build up our confidence through these exercises not bring it down. When deciding on a grow, look for something that you do have control over, there are so many things we have no control over. You only have control over yourself and your reactions, not how others think of you or how other people react. My grandfather used to always tell me “a day you didn’t learn something, is a day wasted”. What did you learn today about yourself that will make you better tomorrow?
Most importantly is to find something to be grateful about. There are so many things to be grateful for: food on your table, a roof over your heard, running water, electricity, clothes to keep you warm (or cool), etc. There will always be big events/things to be grateful for, try to also remember all the little things that we as Americans take for granted. When you look for the blessings in your life, it will help you to see the silver linings when dark times come your way. Last year was an extremely dark time, hopefully none of us will see anything like it again, but there are bound to be difficult times in the future. The more gratitude you show today, the easier it will be to be grateful for the next storm.
This is a beautiful and positive way to approach each day. Right now, it is challenging to look to the future and be certain that the plans you make today will be around tomorrow. Instead of worrying so much about our plans for tomorrow, let’s take each day as it comes. Let’s find the areas that we glowed today and celebrate them. Let’s recognize we are not perfect and there is always somewhere we could grow from a mistake. Then let’s show gratitude for the blessings we did have today.
Chris Ciardello, Consultant
Chris Ciardello joined Global Team Solutions as a consultant in 2013. As a practice management consultant, Chris is passionate about sharing his expertise in the areas of technology and marketing as it pertains to the dental office. Chris has a distinctive knack for understanding the needs of an office and he communicates those needs to the team, which creates a cohesive, productive atmosphere. He is a member of the Academy of Dental Management Consultants and Toastmasters International.
He can be reached at: Chris@GTSgurus.com.