What's in your soup?

What’s in Your Soup?
 
 “You’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”- Jim Rohn

Who are your five?
 
Hopefully, you’ve picked wisely. Interestingly enough, this includes friends, colleagues, family, radio shows/podcasts and television. This quote could explain why our parents have such a huge influence on us as kids and the reason they caution us against hanging with the “wrong crowds”. As adolescents and teenagers, we may not have the insight to appreciate that what we allow in our bubble affects our bubble and could potentially burst that very same bubble we didn’t know needed to be protected. We may be in denial, but sometimes toxic relationships or adversarial television shows can infiltrate our day-to-day routine as effortlessly as Windex leaving a sliding glass door clear as day. Sometimes it takes face planting into it to realize that even though it appears squeaky clean, it’s a barrier that you must address before moving forward. Take a second and examine your own situation. What type of energy have you surrounded yourself with?
 
Nevertheless, regardless of your social and work settings, you have to seek those that align with the identity you are striving to acquire or in some cases, preserve. It may not always emerge innately, therefore you have to be intentional. We will call this, finding the best ingredients for your soup. We’re not looking for grandma’s secret recipe, it’s your time to branch out and create a masterpiece of your own that others will hope to have for themselves.  It’s your call. What traits from your five people are you stirring together to make this dish a repeat in your cookbook?  How will you preserve the ingredients you relish and find a way to use less of the ones you despise? I sure don’t want the title of “complainer” or “Downer Dan” marinating in my soup!
 
 
You must evaluate your current situation and make the decision to re-establish your identity.
 
If you were able to eavesdrop on your patients’ conversations with their friends, family and other healthcare providers about you, how would you be portrayed? What words would they use to illustrate your character? Are you a knowledgeable therapist? Are you an active listener? Would they consider you a trustworthy professional? Do they think you’re employed by the IT department because you always seem to be distracted and working on your computer during their sessions? Overall, you want to know if their perceptions of you match the identity you worked so diligently to create. If it doesn’t, why not? 
 
“Commit to being consistent and doing what’s right over being right.”
“Be curious, listen attentively, learn and find the best solution, not your solution.”
 
 
Hopefully, you’re here because you aspire to be an elite physical therapist. If you look up the qualities of a successful physical therapist, you may find details of the list below.

1. Astute
2. Knowledgeable
3. Humble
4. Patient
5. Positive
6. Intelligible
7. Well rounded
8. Realistic
9. Flexible
10. Caring
    
    

You could easily spend a lifetime working to be the best at all of these, but my suggestion is to encircle yourself with people who carry these attributes and let it slow cook.  You want just the right balance of flavors. For example, don’t sacrifice being humble and intelligible by being overly focused on being knowledgeable. Your five could include your favorite podcast that you listen to at 1.5x speed on your commute to and from work. It could be your PT mentor who has watched you grow from a new grad to the therapist you are today. How about your mentee, who in his or her own way, has challenged you just as much as you have challenged him or her? It could be your family that you cherish so dearly and represent with pride. We can’t forget friends that have absolutely nothing to do with healthcare, but somehow find a way to push us to a better version of ourselves. The index of possibilities is never ending. Our taste buds may change with age and needs, but don’t worry, just adjust accordingly. Just remember, a cookbook is only as good as its worst recipe, pick your five wisely.