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An Independent Care Professional’s Most Important Body Part
I’m guessing you don’t think of your body parts as making important contributions to your advocacy career. But they certainly do! In the past we’ve talked about the importance of your ears (listening). I could also focus on your brain (a – ahem – no brainer), or your fingers (which dial your phone or type your emails) or even your feet (which take you to meet your clients). While those may be important, none are as important as the one we’re looking at today. Today we’re going to take a look at the one body part that will help you improve your clients’ outcomes, keep you on track with your practice; help you make your best decisions, and improve your chances of success as an advocate. Today we’re talking about your gut. (OK – I suppose this use of “gut” may not be classically thought of as a body part – but roll with me on this one, please!) No, I’m not peddling probiotics, nor discussing the latest in stomach remedies. Nor am I looking at your decision to eat healthy – or not. Instead we’ll focus on your gut as it applies to making decisions, helping you overcome hurdles, and finding the best answers – the ones that work best for you and your clients. As in, “Go with your gut!” or “Trust Your Gut!” For me, learning to follow my gut has been an evolution. It wasn’t how I was raised. I was raised to make big or important decisions by reviewing pros and cons, sometimes in lists, perhaps on paper. Do the math, or figure out consequences – whatever was appropriate to the situation. But sometimes, no matter how comprehensively I listed pros and cons, and no matter how accurately I interpreted those lists, my decisions did not work out well. Those errant decisions included my first marriage – which failed miserably – and choosing a business partner who tried to put us into bankruptcy. On paper, with lists of pros and cons, and using the method I was taught to use, they looked good, but they…