Embrace the Person
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton
A few days ago, I watched a YouTube video with a neurosurgeon who described his approach when working with his patients, especially those diagnosed as terminal.
He said, “It really doesn’t matter to me when we have run out of medical options. The fact is that my patients need hope, and it’s up to me provide it. I will always speak the positive, and I will remind the patient that I am going to explore every single opportunity to keep them on this earth longer. The bottom line is that we have to embrace the person, and that is what matters the most!”
Many years ago, I served as a clinical administrator for a 5-office gastroenterology practice in Houston. We had 9 surgeons who worked across these locations.
As I look back at this experience, I remember the value that the doctors placed on treating patients with the best care and comfort.
One doctor said, “I don’t care what insurance these patients have, whether it’s Medicaid or private, I will first treat them with respect, and I will do everything possible to get rid of what ails them. When I no longer have this perspective, I will go do something else.”
Embrace the Person
I believe the most successful leaders in any vocation are the ones who put people first. I’ve been in situations where profit is placed before people, and this approach will invariably lead to failure.
This concept also applies to our friends. The more we get to know our friends, the more we seem to appreciate who they are.
Think about it … as we build a friendship, we learn more about that person’s weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and fears. This knowledge is often what makes us embrace the person even more. We want to be there for them, especially when they need us the most.
Full Circle
Going back to the story about the neurosurgeon who inspired this blog … At the age of 55, he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor.
In the video, I observed the love, care, and support his wife and kids poured over him. There is no doubt that he was embraced by the people who loved him the most, and it gave him hope.
Despite the terminal diagnosis, he asked a fellow neurosurgeon for any available surgical options that would give him more quality time with his family.
After one of the surgeries, his friend said to him, “Chris, the surgery went great! We did everything possible to get rid of the bad stuff. You are going to be okay!”
With this positive attitude, Chris was able to survive two more years before he succumbed to his illness.
If you think about it, the majority of us are not in this life-and-death situation.
Put differently, we have the health and time to share love and kindness with others, and the best time to start is right now.
See you next week, my friends!
Inspiring Quotes
“Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.” – Charles Glassman
“There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” – Edith Wharton
Homework Inquiry
During the next week, here’s your homework inquiry: How will you embrace the people in your life?
I use this opportunity to share with you a unique story and a couple inspiring quotes. Oh ... as a professor at heart, you guessed it, I have a homework inquiry for you. This is a powerful question that might just trigger you to take action on something that really matters in your life. If you feel the Catalyst Newsletter brings benefit to you.