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22 Working Nurse l WorkingNurse.com March 23–April 27, 2020 FLOURISH! ► Passion is your source of inspiration and motivation. Having a passion for your work empowers you to perform at the highest level and helps to protect you from burnout. However, Muha distinguishes between harmonious passion (where you choose to engage in an activity of your own accord and in harmony with your core values) and obsessive passion (where you perform a task solely for the sake of an external reward or recognition). While harmonious passion increases your resilience, an obsession with perfectionism and external goals leads to conflicts, frustration and nega- tive emotions. ► Relationships at work, with your family and in your community foster wellbeing. Individuals who attain the high- est levels of success in life typi- cally also have large circles of friends, coworkers and others, providing abundant support. Maintaining relationships is especially important during rough times like the COVID-19 pandemic. These bonds help us to remember that there's still life beyond the current crisis and provide mutual support in periods of isolation and stress. ► Optimism is a learned way of thinking that leads to a mind- set of hope and growth. While everyone has some negative thoughts, research has demonstrated that individuals who can maintain a 3:1 ratio of positive to negative thoughts are more courageous and less prone to defensiveness, anger and hostility. Optimistic people are also more empathetic, better able to understand and appreciate the challenges and suc- cesses of others, and tend to perform better in their per- sonal and professional lives. ► Proactive response to challenges is the opposite of being reactive. It's about playing to your strengths: looking for opportunities to apply your strongest attributes and perform at your best. Doing this empowers you to remain optimistic and resilient when facing challenges. According to Susan B. Sorenson, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice, people who use their strengths at work are six times more likely to be engaged in their jobs and have lower turnover, higher productivity and greater patient satisfaction. Learning to be proactive takes practice. Author and workplace wellbeing coach Michelle McQuaid, MAPP, sug- gests developing a routine to let you practice your strengths for 10 minutes a day, reinforced by a small reward. Exercises like this are also very useful during a cri- sis because they can help you regain a sense of control over your situation. Nothing drags down your spirits like feeling powerless. ► Energy — physical, mental and emotional — is vital for nurses. We are not like the Energizer Bunny; to ward off stress and burnout, we need time to rest and recharge. Neuroscience studies have shown that a healthy diet, exercise, adequate sleep, mindfulness, meditation and expressing gratitude can all help to measurably decrease stress, increase your resilience and enhance your emotion- al and physical wellbeing . For many nurses, this may seem like a tall order, espe- cially when healthy snacks are in short supply. However, even if you can't make your shift any shorter or less hectic (or make your grocery store restock any quicker), you can take the edge off by learning to step back from constantly running and doing. Take a beat and just be in the moment. An easy exercise you can try is to make a point of pausing upon entering a patient's room or going into a meeting, focusing on the feeling of your two feet on the floor and taking a long breath before proceeding. ► Legacy is about the impact you have on those around you. Focusing on empowering others to bring purpose and meaning to the workplace and bring out the best in each other is a great way to ignite your passion and embrace your values. DON'T JUST SURVIVE — THRIVE! There's no avoiding stress, but not everyone suffers adverse effects from challenging situations. With the proper mindset, stress can actually bring about positive change. In her book The Upside of Stress, author Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., points out, paradoxically, that "common effects of stress include strengths, growth and resilience." By making a commitment to yourself and incorporat- ing the above tips and tools, you can transform tough times into opportunities to flourish in your personal and professional lives. The benefits will last long after the present crisis has faded into historical memory. _____________________________________________________________ Sue Trace, RN, BSN, COCC, ACC, is a professional life/career coach. Certified by the PROPEL Institute, she works with organizations to foster positive workplace culture and improving nursing/staff engagement , retention and patient satisfaction. www.tracecoaching.com. WN Make a point of pausing upon entering a patient's room, focusing on the feeling of your two feet on the floor and taking a long breath before proceeding.