Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot
On Fridays, I like to share experiences from my week—both with patients and in my personal life—that have left a meaningful impact. My hope is that these reflections offer you something of value, a bit of insight or encouragement that resonates with your own journey and inspires you in some way.
A good reminder. Recently, I was talking with a friend who had decided to leave a job. Interestingly, the decision wasn’t driven by a massive disagreement or a dramatic event. Instead, it started when they were shorted a few hundred dollars. They brought the mistake to their employer’s attention, but it was paid lip service then ignored. While the amount itself mattered, even more significant was what it represented. To me, this is what I call the “cockroach effect.” When you see one cockroach, you don’t just think about the one in front of you, you immediately wonder how many you can’t see. The same principle applies to our own lives.
Small lapses in integrity often cause people to question whether they’re isolated incidents or signs of a much larger problem. Every action we take sends a message about our character. When we’re dishonest, careless, or unwilling to make things right, people naturally begin to wonder where else those behaviors exist. Trust is built through countless small moments of integrity, and it can be weakened by a single moment that raises doubt. That’s why it’s so important to address mistakes quickly, keep our word, and do the right thing even when it’s inconvenient. Our goal shouldn’t be to avoid getting caught doing the wrong thing. Instead, it should be to live in such a way that the people around us never have reason to question our character in the first place.
A crucial concept. Several months ago, I was awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of glass shattering downstairs. Assuming someone had broken into our home, I grabbed my firearm and was moving toward the noise within seconds. Thankfully, it turned out to be nothing more than a picture that had come loose and fallen off the wall, and the suspense ended as quickly as it began. The next morning, my children asked if I had been scared as I headed downstairs expecting trouble. I told them truthfully that I absolutely was. That experience reminded me that while fear is never pleasant, it is something that must be managed.
There will be times when we’re afraid but still need to fulfill our responsibilities to ourselves and those around us. Whether we’re facing a difficult conversation, a health challenge, a major decision, or a crisis involving someone we love, fear is a natural part of being human. The real question isn’t whether you’re afraid, but whether you’re willing to work through that fear to do what you know must be done. There are moments in life when no one else is coming to solve the problem, and we must be willing to step forward. Fear is inevitable, but we cannot allow it to make our decisions for us.
An important question. If you have a goal that truly matters to you, ask yourself one simple question, “Am I willing to do what is required?” Most people would quickly answer yes. They’re willing to work hard, make sacrifices, eat better, or learn something new. But there’s a difference between wanting a result and committing to the process. Extraordinary outcomes aren’t earned by good intentions; they’re earned by consistently doing what the goal demands with the passion and commitment it necessitates.
Doing what is required means continuing when you’re tired, discouraged, short on resources, or uncertain you’ll succeed. It means choosing discipline over comfort and persistence over excuses. Finally, if it entails completing 100 steps to get there, 99 will not do. Anyone can stay hopeful and motivated when things are going well but the true test comes when they aren’t. If you’re willing to do what’s required, even when it’s harder than you expected, you’ve given yourself the best chance to achieve something remarkable.
Something I believe. A phrase I often repeat to myself is, “Deal with it as you find it and leave it better than you found it.” Whether I’m coaching, caring for a patient, leading my family, or facing an unexpected challenge, my goal is the same – accept what’s in front of me, handle it well, and improve it. This is not done for recognition or praise, only out of a desire to help and the satisfaction of knowing I responded with integrity, effort, and purpose.
Like many people, I used to spend too much time wishing circumstances were different or complaining about how unfair they felt. The problem was that every minute spent doing that created one not spent improving it. I’ve learned that progress begins with first accepting the situation for what is, good or bad. From there, I can focus my energy on responding in a way that reflects my values, work ethic, and character. Rarely will my efforts create a perfect ending, but that isn’t the goal. If we consistently leave the people, places, and situations we encounter a little better than we found them, we’ll have made a meaningful difference in the lives around us.
Some quotes I Love.
“No one is out to get you, but no one is coming to save you either.” – Eric Thomas
“You’re going to pay a price for every bloody thing you do, and everything you don’t do. You don’t get to choose not to pay a price. You only get to choose which price to pay.” – Jordan B. Peterson