| There are various concepts of thought which | | | | They give of themselves without any sense of |
| derive truths with regard to one's individualized | | | | healthy boundaries in an effort to be gratified. |
| path and the manner in which your choices | | | | While it would be false and inaccurate to claim |
| resonate with your heart's song. Innately, we all | | | | that all nurses and other healthcare providers in |
| follow our distinct and naturally occurring way to | | | | the healing art professions suffer from poor |
| happiness in an individualized manner, therefore | | | | sense of self worth and self esteem, it is safe to |
| we all experience and define happiness differently. | | | | say that there exists a level of codependency. |
| It is doubtful though as functional human beings | | | | Energetically, we are attracted to that which |
| that we expect to experience levels of joy or | | | | causes us to feel complete and valued. What |
| bliss continually. Therefore, what is happiness? For | | | | other profession can provide an individual with |
| many of us, it is the state of contentment. We | | | | such consistent opportunities for extrinsic praise? |
| long to feel as though we are valid contributors to | | | | Nursing and other professional healthcare careers |
| society. We desire a sense of belonging and | | | | can be considered to be enabling professions. |
| obtain satisfaction knowing that we are just and | | | | Enter here the caveat: when a nurse feels |
| good, and this is where our happiness stems | | | | overburdened and not appreciated for their |
| from. The emotion of happiness is a side effect | | | | amazingly difficult work, the circumstance which is |
| of gratification. | | | | sought out by the nurse to obtain gratification is |
| How individuals measure and obtain their | | | | emotionally painful, creating further stress and |
| gratification varies as much as how one defines | | | | toxicity. |
| what happiness means to them. Gratification can | | | | For the nursing or other healing art professionals, |
| be obtained by having a sense of knowing that a | | | | deep contemplation and consideration for one's |
| job has been well done, therefore it is obtained | | | | core beliefs stemming from childhood and or |
| intrinsically. In this scenario, the individual usually | | | | karmic issues will help the individual to gain |
| has a solid sense of self worth and a healthy self | | | | important insights as to their particular mosaic. |
| esteem. Minimal praise from outside sources is | | | | Transpersonal counseling assists the healer-client |
| required. On the opposite side of this spectrum is | | | | to build a bridge between their ego mind and their |
| one who has a poor sense of self worth, | | | | spiritual essence, and on this bridge it will be |
| therefore needs to obtain their validation | | | | determined from which aspect of our selves |
| extrinsically, from outside sources in the form of | | | | various thought processes are derived. With this |
| praise. In fact, in this population, not only is their | | | | knowledge, the professional can determine what |
| happiness in the form of gratification obtained | | | | they are hoping to extract from their career, and |
| extrinsically, but their sense of self worth is | | | | why. In addition to and with caring guidance, many |
| potentially defined solely by the praise that is | | | | opportunities for the healing of one's wounds will |
| received. This dysfunctional behavior sets up a | | | | occur, resulting in healthier boundaries, improved |
| cyclical pattern of behaviors, creating | | | | self esteem, less projection, enhanced |
| codependency. The individual creates | | | | communication, well deserved inner joy and |
| circumstances in their life for the sake of | | | | ultimately a more rich and satisfying journey on |
| receiving praise as a direct path to self worth. | | | | their life's path. |