Check your circle. “Take stock of who’s on your team adding value and who’s subtracting and contributing to division,” says Rhonda Mattox, M.D., a psychiatrist in Little Rock, Arkansas. “Pay close attention to how you feel when you’re with people. Ask yourself: ‘Who leaves me lighter, happier, optimistic and more determined? Who leaves me heavier?’ “ she says. Focus on the folks in the former group.
Find your posse. Surround yourself with people who are going in the direction you want to go, says Dr. Mattox. For example, if you hope to start your own business, you might want to follow the U.S. Small Business Administration and other entrepreneurs on social media.
Pat yourself on the back. Celebrating your small wins along the way will help you stay motivated and moving toward your goals, says Dr. Mattox.
Brace yourself—this next task may make you feel vulnerable because it explores whether how you see yourself is similar to how other people see you. Write down the five words that you think best describe you. Then ask ten of your closest family members and friends to give you five words that they would use to describe you. Take those 50 words and look for the ones that show up most often. Are they on your own list of five? When I did this, the top word that came from my squad was generous. It’s a self-identifier for me, so it validated how I view myself. Now begin to mine your top words. How do you turn them into action? It will give you the fuel to move from being stuck to deciding what’s next. For me, it included launching a foundation that was based in generosity, as well as getting involved with philanthropy, mentoring, and several nonprofits. While I didn’t ask everyone to give me five negative things, that’s a good exercise, too. I would have to include impatient, rigid at times, and possessive. Having insights on how to move forward from those traits has also helped me get unstuck, particularly in my personal relationships.
1. Are there any risks? What are the benefits of taking the medication? Weighing the risks and benefits can ensure that your getting the best medication for their health conditions.
2. What are the side effects? Being aware of potential side effects and reporting them to your physician early on can help in their treatment.
3. How expensive is this medication and will insurance cover it? The doctor may not know the cost of a certain medication and there are many types of insurance coverages. Most likely, the pharmacist will have information about how much a medication will cost.
4. Does the medication come in a generic form and is it effective? Generic forms of medications are generally cheaper and are usually just as effective. However, keep in mind that newer medications may not come in the generic form and may be the drug of choice for a particular medical condition.
5. Are there any special considerations when taking the medication? How should it be taken? Check to see if the medication needs to be taken with food or on an empty stomach, or at a certain time of day. Also, some medications are more tolerable when taken at different times.
6. When will the medication take effect? Some medications take effect quickly within minutes or hours, while others may take four to six weeks to get to full therapeutic levels. Knowing this information will help set expectations so you don’t mistakenly think the medication isn’t working.
7. How long will they need to take the medication? Medication for an easily treatable condition may work in as little as one dose, but a medication for chronic conditions may need to be taken for years.
Ask the pharmacist which category this medication will be in.
8. Why is this new drug better than what they were previously taking? A new drug may be more effective for managing a condition or may have fewer side effects.
I was single for 20 years. So, when my new husband started embracing me each night before falling asleep, I found the habit sweet but constricting. Then I remembered how my husband’s previous partner developed multiple myeloma. How he once rushed Michael to the hospital when the symptoms got severe. How Michael, paraplegic, died on a gurney in a hallway, waiting for his tests to begin. And how my husband had his arms around Michael the moment he died. Now, when that late-night embrace arrives, I don’t think about claustrophobia. I just stroke his hand to say, “I’m still here.” — Jeff Herrington
Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…
