In Case You Thought I Was Well-Adjusted

You may notice that every week I am writing about and sharing some new insight on personal growth and development. Many of these tips or practices are the most ground- breaking developments in the realm of human potential. So, in case it seems like I have it all together, I just wanted you to know that, like you, I am a work in progress.

When I observe other people, it sometimes appears as though success and happiness come to them naturally. They are just so lucky and have it so good! I have often found myself wanting to be one of those fortunate people. After wishing got me nowhere and, believe me, I really hoped it would, I decided to find out what they had going for them.

I’ve read my share of self-help books and taken a personal development course here and there. I would get into the latest thing that was going to make my life all better and stick with it for a while. Then, after some time, I would let it slide and be no better off than I was. This was too often the result of trying to do it on my own.

For the last two and a half years, I have been part of a mentoring group for Network Spinal Analysis (NSA) doctors, called “X-CELS’. This is a group of my peers, which is led by two highly successful doctors—one here in the Ottawa region (He’s actually in Quebec; he’d kill me for saying that) and the other in Switzerland. What has evolved is a community of individuals dedicated to their personal growth through service to others . We meet on the phone weekly and discuss assignments that help us to identify our strengths and then to use those strengths to develop the attributes we would like in ourselves. This, in turn, enables us to become the people who have it really good and seem to make everything look so easy.

As I was saying, in case you thought I was well adjusted, I’m working hard at it. Every week I learn a little more about myself by applying some of the tips and insights I share with you on a regular basis. Often, I am so excited by what I have just learned on a call with my peers, that I find myself bursting to share it. Next thing I know I have hammered out three or four articles on what I want to apply in my life. The writing solidifies the learning for me and makes it real.

Sometimes it seems overwhelming to me that there are so many parts of myself to work on. I can actually get discouraged. What I have found, over time, is that the most effective approach for me is to just work on one thing at a time and master it. Then I move on to the next thing. Through commitment and continued effort, I have found that the things that I was not very good at have started to become easier. Sometimes, people actually think it is natural for me!

It’s funny that the thing I do at work as a doctor is called practice; I get to go to the office and practice what I am learning and get better at being a successful human being! When you see me really get into something, it is because I want to bring that part of me to life. Through sharing it with you, I get to develop it in myself.

We have many new developments in the office and a really big vision for the New Year. What that means for you is that you get to see me pulling together some parts of myself that have not been so successful in the past. For me, it is an opportunity to practice, grow and better serve you. Thank you for being part of my personal laboratory.