Dooley Noted: 2/21/2014
When you have hurt, there is much to fall in love with again.
I recently experienced some heartbreak. You can always tell how I feel right on my face, since its apparently translucent.
Since I take my work quite seriously, I wondered how I would be my normal self in lab.
My heavy heart and I entered the lab, and I prayed for the strength to be on point. When I saw the students’ bright faces, I tried to put on the face of the instructor they expected.
Feeling every ounce of my hurt, I felt its enormous power. I realized that it was usable hurt. It’s energy, after all.
We laughed and learned, dissected and discussed. I felt my hurt turn away from lost love and return to an old love. I fell in love with the anatomy all over again. I fell in love with helping students all over again.
We can’t live scared of hurt. We can’t avoid it, but we can use it and transform it into usable energy.
If you are putting heart into what you do, then hurt is impending. It’s the natural flip-side to giving.
The ideal goal is to become resilient to hurt. Not being too close to the fire is a start. But in a blaze you never intended, resiliency to bounce from hurt is imperative.
My friend Geoff Girvitz SFG told me stability is “the ability to maintain your position against any stimulus.”
Stability sounds like resiliency to hurt.
I hope you learn to use any and all hurt to work in your favor.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley