Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot
On Fridays I like to share experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant. I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.
A good reminder. On Saturday, I began to have severe pain in my right wrist out of nowhere. I tried a couple of things to alleviate it, then went to bed hoping it would be better the next day. Unfortunately, it was even worse the following morning and was bad all day Sunday. As a chiropractor, this is a worst-case scenario, and I began to worry whether I could treat any patients the next day because even holding a coffee cup caused debilitating pain. My emotions began to get the better of me, and I got progressively more concerned as I considered all the worst-case scenarios for how the injury could affect me with my work.
When I awoke Monday morning, my wrist was still painful, but I had the thought that I needed to deal with myself objectively without emotion as I would any of my patients. This led me to a series of natural remedies that began to help instantly, and miraculously, I was able to I treat patients without any problems. Though I wasn’t excited to be in such pain, the whole encounter was an excellent reminder that when we become emotional, we tend to be unable to see the best solutions. Therefore, it is vital that we take a step back, remove the emotional component, and evaluate objectively what needs to be done to solve whatever issue we may be facing.
An important concept. I spoke to someone this week about what it means to be successful. They felt unsuccessful because they didn’t have more money in the bank than they currently have. My response was that while finances are important, they are only a fraction of what goes into whether someone is successful.
My view on success is that it comes down to how well you are utilizing what you have. I have a job that I work hard at and make a good living that provides for my family. I’m not rich but I do well, and my work provides me with a schedule where I can be ever-present with my immediate family, which means a great deal to me. Finally, I take steps each day to be the best version of myself physically, mentally, and spiritually so that I can maximize my time on this earth while helping as many around me as possible. The point of all this is that success is never a single number or figure. Your version is likely to be different than mine but give thought to what it looks like for you and do all you can to pursue that vision.
Something important. There is likely someone in your life from whom you would love to hear the words “I am proud of you.” Perhaps it’s a parent, friend, mentor, or someone else. It’s possible you work extremely hard and go through numerous trials to hopefully one day hear those simple words. You have even likely imagined it happening and how wonderful it would feel. Lord knows I have done this myself for decades and it has taught me a powerful lesson.
It is entirely possible (even likely) that the person you work the hardest to praise your accomplishments never will. You may not get that recognition that you so desperately crave, and I am here to tell you, that’s ok. Becoming/being someone you are proud of is far more valuable than receiving adulation from anyone else no matter who they are. The greatest form of respect is self-respect and that should be what you truly go after. Furthermore, if you’ve been chasing someone else’s approval, do not feel bad about that. It may have been the source of motivation you required to take giant steps forward , therefore it should be something you’re grateful for.
An analogy I like. Have you ever set out to go someplace that will be fun and exciting and thought, “I’ll drive there while staring only into my rear-view mirror?” This would obviously be dangerous and stupid because if you were looking only at what was behind you, you would certainly crash into what was in front of you. This concept is simple and obvious in terms of driving a car, yet we make this mistake frequently in daily life.
If you are unhappy with who you are and/or where you may be at, it is likely that you are staring too much into the rear-view mirror of your life. Maybe it was a tough childhood, mistakes you made, trauma, bad relationships, or any number of possibilities. Regardless, none of those must define you. You have the power to imagine better things in front of you. If you start with that simple action, you can then begin taking steps toward living that vision. Whatever is in your past no matter how good or bad, let it go. Focus on creating a better future by moving forward without constantly worrying about things that happened before. Trust me, this can make all the difference.
Some quotes I Love.
“Raise your sons to be good men because you’re not just raising your son, you’re raising someone’s future husband and father.” – Bedros Keulian
“You don’t drown by falling in the water, you drown by staying there.” – Brandi MacDonald
“If you’re jealous over someone’s success, then don’t forget to be jealous of their hard work too.”