Perception Deception..... Don't be misled by your preconceived fears or expectations

As a nurse in the cardiac cath lab I assisted a 54 year old woman onto the procedure table to prepare for her very first heart cath. Although she had low risk factors and took good care of herself physically, she was overwhelmed with sorrow and fear; ...crying and trembling in place. When asked about her tears, she explained that her husband died 8 years ago and she feared leaving her children without a parent. This thought left her frozen and vulnerable to every possible negative thought imaginable. Rather than allow her to spiral down a path of doom and victimization, or sedate her with narcotics to temporarily quell her thoughts, I helped her to reanalyze her situation. Worst case scenerio, we can treat you with surgery and medication. There are other diseases which offer no hope for recovery or cure and offer little hope for longevity. I quoted some inspirational people and offered lots of emotional support to a fragile woman in front of me. She especially liked "you can't control the wind, but you can redirect your sails." I watched as she transformed from a victim to a grateful woman in charge of her reactions. The change was instant and full of power. I'm grateful to be a part of her self growth and mastery. A simple shift in perception is all that was needed for
her to overcome tremendous fear and saddness. Whenever you're caught in a spiral, it helps to pause, breathe, and try to reanalyze your situation. There is power in thoughts!