Dooley Noted: 7/6/2016
This week, I had an atypical occurrence.
I had a potential patient, contacting me to get my soonest appointment.
I received phone calls and urgent emails, in attempts to get in as soon as possible.
I rearranged my schedule and reorganized room bookings to make sure this urgency was met with anything I could do to help.
Today, the potential patient last-minute cancelled.
This person taught me an important lesson:
The perception of urgency is not always equivalent to the reality of urgency.
I can’t say I know the exact reason why the urgency changed so quickly.
But I do know she taught me that true urgency is usually an illusion.
I thought of the times I waited anxiously in a cab, thinking I would miss my flight. But I made it to the gate.
I remembered the times I had incredible body pain, which I feared would never leave me. It became my sole focus – until the pain dissipated past my level of observance.
Perceived urgency increases awareness – which can enhance discomfort.
If you are currently experiencing discomfort, by all means, get assessed.
But dial down the perception of urgency to make yourself more comfortable.
And don’t last minute cancel on a practitioner. That person may have been the one person to get to the root of your problem.
Or, at least provide 24 hours notice.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
