I Get To

Last week, my leadership team joined the IT leadership team from the Wexner Medical Center to participate in the “Health Athlete” training program from the Ohio State School of Nursing. This is a program that was co-developed by Jim Loehr, whose work I have loved for many years and so I was very excited to attend the training.

The training was very focused on self-work and understanding our own values, habits and stories that drive energy. The goal at the end of the training was to find one small change that we could commit to in the next 90 days that would help us live more fully into our own values and priorities.

One of the sessions was very emotional for me as I uncovered a ton of negative stories that had been draining my energy and optimism. Making that visible to myself in a supportive and safe setting was both informative and empowering.

My “ah-ha” moment during the training was when the instructor talked about reframing the boatload of work that she had from “I have to…” to “I get to…” I realized that over the last several months, my perspective had changed from one of excitement and opportunity to one based on obligation and overwhelm.

My small change that I have committed to for the next 90 days is to use that reframe from “I have to” to “I get to.” My commitment to make that small change is helping me recognize how often I had been mentally shifting to “I have to” in all aspects of my life.

Just one example is that I have a goal to ride as many miles as I am years old on my birthday each year. Even though I love to cycle, I realized that I was NOT very excited when I thought about doing that this year because I was thinking of it as an obligation.

I did that ride last Saturday with so much joy! I got to ride 56 miles this year because I had the health, equipment, time and friends to do that ride with me.

What mental reframes have you found to be empowering and energizing in your life?