Helpful Guidelines For Success in Life and Work

Welcome to our new subscribers!! And if you haven't joined the conversation on Facebook, then find us @ptsonmission to continue to receive updates, encouragement, and information. Finally, tell a friend if you are benefiting from this site.

Time to blog seems to be eluding me these days with the hustle and bustle of life, work, and family responsibilities but I’m happy to have a post ready that I’ve spent some time thinking about and which I hope will be beneficial to you. I've been working in the field of physical therapy for over a decade now and have experienced many different types of work environments and had many different interpersonal confrontations. Some of those have been good and some have been more challenging. But through it all, I have discovered some key concepts that have really helped me find success both in my work and personal life. So, I’d like to share four guidelines with you today to encourage you as you walk through your different career and life stages.

Be a Blessing to Others. This is something that sounds easy but requires some diligence because our natural default is to worry about ourselves. This can be especially true in our workplaces as healthcare providers. Being a blessing to others requires the selflessness described in Philippians 2:3-4 where Paul writes and says to do nothing out of selfish ambition but consider others more significant than yourself. It means being helpful and speaking encouraging words to those around you. It also means that sometimes we just have to listen well to those around us and be understanding. There will be fruit from being a blessing to others because you will become someone that others want to be around and that is a gift that can be used to point others to Christ.

Work Hard. Success in life and the workplace requires us to do good work and to work hard doing that good work. Be someone that sets an example of a good work ethic and do your very best as working unto the Lord. Again, the scriptures instruct us in this in Colossians 3:23 where we are told that whatever we do, we are to work at it with all our heart as unto the Lord and not men. Sometimes that may mean going above and beyond your designated responsibilities but set an example of a good, gospel work ethic and combat the laziness that might surround you. You will benefit in the long run.

Have a Good Attitude. We live in a fairly negative society where complaining reigns supreme. But adopting a grateful, positive attitude will take you far in life and in your healthcare workplace. As a believer, we have much to be thankful for because no matter what our day has been like, or how others have treated us, we have the love of Jesus Christ and an eternal hope. We can have joy in a world of disgruntled, negative attitudes. Yes, things can be challenging but we are instructed to do everything without grumbling and complaining (Phil 2:14-15). And because of Christ in our lives, we can say with the psalmist that this is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it (Ps 118:24)! My pilot dad always told me growing up, “Jason, in life, your attitude determines your altitude.” So cultivate a good attitude in the midst of negativity by keeping your eyes on Jesus and watch how the Lord uses you for his purpose.

Think the Best of Others. In dealing with colleague or patient relationships, it is easy to make a quick judgment, focus on a negative interaction, or come into an interaction with a negative bias by justifying yourself. Many times we just assume the worst in someone as if the individual we are interacting with has a personal vendetta against us, but that is likely not the case. We never know what someone may be walking through in their own life and need to have grace and compassion in difficult situations. But working to think the best of can really offset any potential misunderstanding and thinking the best of others is a way to help combat those condemning thoughts.

I hope these four guidelines inspire you today and help impact both your daily and work life. And through them, I pray that others would see a difference and give you an opportunity to give an account for the hope that you have in this dark and hopeless world. Thanks for reading and if you found it beneficial go ahead and share it!

Jason

***Check out my book "Rehab the World" written for Physical Therapists to encourage us in our workplace and prepare us to serve those around us. If you like, please leave a review and spread the word!!***

---