This morning I was thinking of my stress response and how to improve the next moment as a way to exercise faith. It was only a week ago, that I felt cold/flu symptoms and was reminded I should test for Covid. I tested positive and spent the majority of the week quarantined, trying to recover. On Monday, my boss called saying that he was not only Covid positive, but that administration had decided to discontinue our day treatment program and suggested I contact HR within the larger corporation for possible opportunities utilizing TR (Therapeutic Recreation). I really wasn't in the state of mind/body to receive or respond to this news, nevertheless, the door was closing and it was time to find another open door.
Though not feeling well, I took slow, deliberate, micro-steps to totally accept what is and do my best to "improve the next moment" and "make decisions aligned with my values". These are concepts I have been studying with DBT continuing education credits online. I found my PHD doppelganger on the internet with whom I seriously would like to do a Vulcan "mind meld" with. She even has a daughter named "Hailey!" (https://www.docsnipes.com). Anyway, practicing radical acceptance and improving the next moment are crucial distress tolerance skills I not only want to teach others, but first practice myself. And I just so happen to have plenty of stressful events giving me a perfect opportunity to practice them.
Not once this week did I feel panicked or even emotionally triggered, especially since I had received similar news 16 months ago. With the assurance that "everything will be okay" I spent my time reaching out to HR, talking with other clinical directors, completing additional counseling CEU's, learning and creating music in "Bandlab" for future use with students, updating my resume and casually looking on "Indeed." I was magnetically drawn to a position that I originally passed on 16 months ago, but now felt prompted to take action and apply for it. I texted the clinical director and asked if I might be considered. She texted back "Absolutely!" I set up an interview for next week and will most likely be offered the job.
My current employer wanted me to show up for work on Friday, so I masked up, stayed away from the students and started to gather my belongings from the day program. During my first year with this company, I have worked 3 separate programs providing recreational therapy services. First a clinical boarding school, then residential treatment, then a IOP day program. In many ways, it has been an incredible opportunity for learning, growth, innovation, flexibility, creative expression and clarity. I have no regrets. I am sad that our day program is closing. I invested heavily and feel a keen sense of loss. I had great hopes that will never come to fruition. I know I am not the only one who is experiencing loss due to this financial failure. Yet hope is a real thing.
Hope shines brightly. Better days are ahead. I have one last week with my current students. During this time we will focus on distress tolerance and the IMPROVE acronym combined with various recreational tasks. I will encourage them to make slow, deliberate, steps to totally "accept what is" and do their best to "improve the next moment" and "make decisions aligned with their values". It will become a template for my future work.
I feel peace. I feel directed, even led to which next steps to take for well-being. My object of faith is not in some super-wow youtube psych counselor or latest greatest evidenced based mental health practice but rooted in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ, Hope in Jesus Christ energize and infuse me with acceptance of what is and power to move on. He supercharges my meager capacity to IMPROVE the next moment.
No comments:
Post a Comment