Tip of the Month
Volunteer!
Do you have a chronic illness? Would you like to have a say in your course of treatment?
The Jefferson InterProfessional Education Center is now recruiting Health Mentors for Fall 2008!
The Health Mentors Program is designed for students from the Jefferson Medical College, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy and School of Health Professions (occupational therapy, physical therapy and family and couples therapy students) to learn FIRST HAND what is important to patients who live with chronic illness.
The Mentors are adults of any age from the community who live with one or more chronic illnesses (i.e. diabetes, hypertension, asthma, arthritis, or cancer) and would like to volunteer their time to teach students the importance of patient centered care. If you would like to apply to become a Jefferson Health Mentor, or just get more information, please contact Jillian Necky at jillian.necky@jefferson.edu or 215-955-3757.
Using new paints to expand our self-perception
Creating who you want to be is like painting a picture - it is never truly finished and we are continuously adjusting our goals and ambitions in life. As the painter of your life’s canvas, most of us do not spend enough time trying new themes or colors. We carry on with the same subjects and use the same paints over and over, and expect the picture to come out as beautiful as it was the first time you painted it.
Over time, of doing the same thing, your self-perception narrows. When our self-perception is narrow, we tend to limit our thinking, our actions, and our life. It makes us think some things are beyond our reach, that we should not even try to reach them.
Have you ever let a great opportunity pass you by, because you felt you were not good enough? Ever declined to give a speech, because you felt people would think you sound foolish? Ever cancelled a date you had planned for a month because you were self-conscious about how you would look dressed up?
Begin by expanding your self-perception by trying the following:
- Take baby steps with trying new things - start doing things you previously rejected because they were just “not you”
- Start off with something small, but significant
- Learn a new skill of some kind
- Start using “I can” statements instead of “I can’t” statements
- Stop limiting yourself, start believing you are destined for greatness!
It is never too late to start changing your perception!
Take care and stay well,
