Chapter 1
Love thy neighbor, right?
We spend a lot of time with people in education, healthcare, civil and human service — all those in the helping professions. It’s clear that most of our friends have the “Love Thy Neighbor” thing down; to the point where they sacrifice their own good health in love’s name.
That’s why we take such pleasure in employee wellness. It’s a tremendous opportunity to care for the caretaker, to help them put on their own oxygen mask first. In the interest of helping our friends love themselves this valentine week, we want to focus on clear health “expectations.”
ONE: When it comes to health, we are what we believe.
Robust research says a strong key to longevity is the answer to one question: “How do you view your health?” Above all else, people who say, “Not so good,” don’t stick around long enough to tell us about it. People who say, “Great, thanks,” remain vibrant, happy souls, giving their best to the world (regardless of all other risks such as high cholesterol, diabetes and so on). The message? Even if you have a chronic health condition, if you view it honestly (treat it properly) and you’re optimistic about your ability to manage it, you will indeed be well; sticking around long enough to enjoy the good life.
TWO: Furthermore, we can become what we set our sights on, bit by bit.
Small exaggerations help motivate us to actually be what we claim. If I say I’m 145 pounds but I’m really 155, chances are, now that I’ve broadcast the alleged fact, I’ll work hard to prove I’m not a liar. Once it slips out, by way of virtue, I become determined to live up to my statement.
A postscript on this research shows that over exaggeration bursts the bubble. So setting your sights too high or burying your head about serious concerns will make your enchanted scene crumble. Then you’re faced with both the disappointment of failure and the shame of bruised character.
THREE: Finally, when we’re honest about our frailties, we’re more satisfied with our outcomes.
When we ask cancer patients how they evaluate their quality of life, those who have realistic expectations about prognosis yet, again, are optimistic about meeting their health goals, view their situation as truly tenable. The opposite is true for those caught up in either Pollyanna denial or pessimistic foreboding. There you have it: the happy medium really is happy!
In short, when it comes to expectations… Reasonable exaggeration proves widely inspirational while tipping the edge toward deluded enchantment is downright undermining. Realistic treatment marching hand in hand with optimism is the cornerstone.
At the close of our first chapter we want to know, where are your expectations leading you?