Dear colleagues,
Why? But why? Why? But why? Why?
As a parent of two it’s a question that my children, particularly the four-year-old versions, asked repeatedly! Their insatiable curiosity for life and how it all works drives their ongoing desire to understand and make sense of and mostly for the purpose of safety, security and certainty.
It’s also a question I’ve been asked repeatedly. Why does this happen at Metro North? Why was this decision made and without consultation? Why was that behaviour okay? Why did they do that… it doesn’t fit the values? Why weren’t we told about this? These are all fair questions. We all need safety, security and certainty, particularly in these rapidly changing and demanding times. The challenge of course is in our search for meaning and understanding that we may never know the real reason why. People’s intentions and their motivations (“their motive for action”) are complex and multifactorial. Even if we did truly understand the reason why, we may not even agree, which may then still result in uncertainty, frustration and confusion.
In my experience, in times of disillusionment and cynicism it can really help our own mental and physical health to take our focus off why some things are happening in our world and in particular the things that we have no control over or capacity to influence. This is NOT about giving up on very important things that would benefit yourself and others. It’s recognising there are times where no amount of agonising over why some things happen will help us or others.
Since coming to Metro North, I’ve had many conversations with people encouraging them to consider their own yummy reason why they do what they do! Bringing our focus onto our intentions and our whys can be a really beautiful thing! Our aspiration is that everyone at Metro North will come to work with a clear sense of purpose (our why!) and positive anticipation and leave with a sense of genuine satisfaction and well-being. The first part, of course, is referring to our why!
Our personal intentions and our reason whys are as unique and widely diverse as we are yet when people start talking about them there are some commonalities. Professionally a lot of us want to make a positive difference to the wellbeing of our patients and our colleagues so we keep learning and applying and failing and learning and applying and failing so we can be the best versions of ourselves… clinically, professionally and personally!
Personally, many of us do the work we do for our own professional and personal fulfilment. We may also want to provide for family, life and to make some dreams come true! Many want to look back on our lives with a true sense of purpose, pride and satisfaction for the choices we made. One of our 9,000 nurses told me that her number one intention and personal why was to help build a better health service at Metro North so when it’s her turn to use it it will be world class! 😊
When I write out my long list of intentions and the yummy reasons whys that go with that intention there is consistently a number 1. The intention is to be one of the fittest 95-year olds on the planet!
Why do I want to be still physically and mentally healthy at 95?
WHY? I want to outlive my daughter!
Why? She is such an inspiration to me and I’m wishing her of course the longest, healthiest and happiest life. As people with Down Syndrome live longer, healthier lives I would love to look out for my daughter and be around her entire life to support, encourage and shower her with love. I know the possibility of me living that long is unlikely based on fate, genetics and environment however that really clear why guides me on how I lead my life! It guides how I think, exercise and eat. It guides who I associate with. It guides my decision making in how I be that physically and emotionally fit person for her and for me.
Why? I also love the idea of going into a masters mixed martial arts competition at 95 and being awarded the fight because there were no other contestants! That’s a funny why, for me!
Why? Last year I married the most wonderful human being I’ve ever met and based on the statistics I’ve got 16 Great Summers left till I’m 70 and then hopefully a few good bonus ones after that! We both agreed that 16 summers won’t be long enough together, so I need to be physically and emotionally well for both of us with a very clear intention to turn that into 32 Great Summers instead! 😊
Please can I encourage you to remember and write down your intentions and most importantly your long list of yummy reason whys! If you can get to 5 Whys for every intention it increases the risk you might turn that intention into reality! It’s also really worth writing them down and I believe if it’s not written down it’s not real… yet!
Wishing you a great day.
Kindest regards,
Bruce