11th day of Christmas
Each month, we send out a spiritual message to everyone on our Resurrection Health Care Web page.
This is the message for January 2010

 RHC MONTHLY MISSION MOMENT REFLECTION – JANUARY 2010

 Tradition has it that whenever we begin a New Year, and especially as we enter a new decade, we should try to take an inventory of our lives, our attitudes and our habits and make some resolutions that will set us on the path to living a better life.

Thanks to some source material provided by Carole Miserendino, Vice President of Patient Care Services at Resurrection Medical Center, the Monthly Mission Moment Reflection for January 2010 offers some possible resolutions that could help you on your way to a more positive, and less toxic, life style for this New Year.

Recognize your bad moods.
Recognize when you are in a bad mood. Admit it. Recognize that you are fighting an emotional battle with yourself, with someone else, and, possibly, even the world. Stop for a moment and ask yourself this question: “Do I really want to fight this battle? Can I win it? Is it worth fighting even if I do?”

Avoid the nattering nabobs of negativity (thank you, Spiro Agnew).
Some people enjoy being negative. They can be dream-deflators, energy-drainers, or passion-poppers. But nobody really likes being around a Debbie or Donny Downer. Go out of your way to seek the company of positive, optimistic, joyful or passionate people.

Don’t be a “whine” expert.
Any time you catch yourself whining about something, turn it into a blessing. Try something like this: “My back is killing me… Thank God for ibuprofen.”

Check your “vents” on a regular basis.
If you must “vent” and feel the need to pass along your complaints to someone else, at least have the courtesy to warn them first. “I am about to share some of my misery with you. I appreciate your listening, but you might want to put on your fire-proof vest first.”

Similarly, if someone else needs to “vent” to you, just empathize, if its appropriate, but don’t become an “enabler” by commiserating with them (remember commiserate = co-miserate, i.e., to be miserable together).

Memorize the Serenity Prayer.
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” Don’t waste your time and energy, and deaden your spirit, by complaining about problems you should actually be trying to fix or about predicaments that are beyond your power to resolve.”

Purchase “AA” batteries.
Practice Attentive Appreciation (AA) as a way to energize your life. At any and every moment of the day, there is something in your life for which you can be appreciative. It is a choice. It is amazing that people who are so blessed waste so much time complaining and wishing for something else. At this very moment, as you are reading this, you can be thankful for the blessings in your life (like the ability to see, or read, or think) or you can be resentful for what you perceive to be missing. It is your choice. Choose wisely.

 Practice TGAoT.
The ability to “Thank God Ahead of Time” (also a book by Michael Crosby) is the ultimate test of an attitude of gratitude. When bad things happen to good people like you, find something to be thankful for rather than playing the victim. Almost any person who has come through a difficult time or serious adversity will ultimately say that the time of trial was life changing and transformative. That is the ultimate spirit of the Resurrection. The sooner you can say “Thank you, God” (even thought you don’t know why you are thankful), the sooner the butterfly will emerge from its cocoon.

Self administer our Core Values.
We all know that our core values are Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence and Service. We also know that we are usually inspired to direct these values toward others: our patients, co-workers, visitors and so on. During this New Year, let’s occasionally take time to treat ourselves to some Compassion, Respect and Service. Take care of yourself. Practice living a balanced and integrated life. You cannot bring water to others when your own well is dry.

Be an RHC “Mission-ary”
“We exist to give witness to God’s sustaining love.” Recognize that you are created in the image and likeness of God. You are a child of God. When you believe that your life has value, meaning and purpose, you can’t help but spread the light that shines within you. Every time we share one of our God-given gifts, it brings us closer to the person that God sees in us.

“We are motivated by a reverence for life and respect for those we serve.” Take time, periodically, to reverence your own life. Remember: God does not make trash, only humans do. As you strive to life a balanced life, you respect yourself.

“We steward our human and financial resources” Strive to be a steward not only of the ministry of RHC but also your own life. You are your own best steward. The great challenge of any mission or ministry is to sustain it. If you burnout in short order, who will serve the next person in need?

 The Great Commandment that was taught by Jesus says: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.” Take the time to love yourself, not in an arrogant, self-centered way, but with gratefulness for the gift of life and love that has been free!