The most important lesson that I have learned from my career as a Registered Nurse is practice what you love. I believe that those of us who are in “healing” professions often have a story to support why we are attracted to this field. Anyone who wants to work in a healing profession should understand what their motivating factor is. In my Gestalt practice, we call this “your unfinished business.” I entered the nursing profession for a couple reasons: I had experienced the death of my father at 26, which was a long, painful process. The other reason is that, despite my ambition to become a working artist, I was told that artists don’t make enough money to survive, a.k.a., the “Starving Artist Story.” When I eventually became a nurse, I quickly learned that I was excellent at easing sorrow, providing comfort, and advocating for patients and families. I also realized that the medical system in this country has little respect and compassion for the ongoing struggles of those in the nursing profession. (And this assessment was all pre-COVID-19.)
I became a student of the culture of the nursing profession and the unhealthy work environments nurses are exposed to in mind, body, and soul. I knew there was another way to survive and thrive in the profession. I was passionate about the power of healing, and I suspected that the cure was not found in some type of pharmaceutical concoction. As a result, I started taking baby steps by feeling what it was like to enjoy bits of balance: an art class, saying “no,” or listening to an inspirational book. In the meantime, after leaving my job with a raging tension headache, my symptoms resolved when I stopped to visit my horse on my way home. Once I approached him, I immediately noticed Yanni’s head pop up from his outdoor paddock (and the eye rolls of other boarders). Most importantly, I realized that if I held onto these toxic emotions for much longer, I too would become a statistic of this profession.
It was clear to me that, in order to survive this grueling profession, I needed to discover what truly fed my soul. Thus, I returned to my childhood passions, including art, horses, and vision work. I learned to step away from giving to others 24/7 and how to redirect the energy of love and compassion inward. I made it my mission to teach others about the importance of doing what they love.
We stand with you wholeheartedly!
Vivian, Luca and Skye Mama