I’ve been in Physical Therapy (PT) for the last several weeks. It’s a concept that can strike terror into your heart.
Pain
There is no shortage of pain or suffering while you’re at PT. In fact, I’ve accused them of updating machines from the torture of evil dungeons.
The staff at PT doesn’t let up on the pain and suffering caused by their work. In fact, they won’t let up until I get it right or I get enough repetitions to produce some gain from the effort. They’re relentless in causing pain and suffering in order to gain ground on my ailment.
Encouraging
However, during the effort that is painful and exhausting, I find the staff to be very encouraging and motivating. What causes this seeming dilemma? On the wall, they have posted their dozen rules to live by.
Dozen Rules to Live By
- Live God-Centered
- Love People and Build Relationships
- Create Remarkable Experiences Through Exceptional Service
- Promote Growth and Embrace Change
- Be Generous
- Pursue Excellence
- Be Efficient
- Act with Honesty and Integrity
- Stay Humble
- Utilize Strengths and Passions
- Encourage Autonomy, Innovation, and Clarity
- Be Transparent
Let me expand on a few of these.
Live God-Centered
God doesn’t promise a pain-free life. Be he does promise to love us and will always be with us. That’s what the people at physical therapy do. They are always with us through the entire exercise set and they make us feel cared for and appreciated when they’re administrating pain (in an effort to make us better).
Love People and Build Relationships
As people approach the end of their life, their minds turn to relationships. I hope I have many years left but I do find my mind and memories turning to relationships.
I received a text message from a friend I first knew forty years ago. I was so glad to get that message that I immediately called him back. He had coded the first computer program I ever developed. We spent many hours going through the code and becoming great friends along the journey.
Promote Growth and Embrace Change
Change is the part of life that people seem to resist the most. Although things are constantly changing, there seems to be a desire to ignore or deny that things are changing. Things constantly change. Embrace it.
Act with Honesty and Integrity
Honesty and Integrity are the elements that people remember about us. You can be generous, excellent, and efficient (numbers 5, 6, and 7) above, but honesty and integrity are what people will remember about you.
Be Humble and Transparent
Humility and transparency (numbers 9 and 12) are the two other aspects that will be long remembered. People with these traits seem to be fully trusted and are long remembered. When you’re administering pain (in PT) people must feel your humbleness and transparency or they won’t come back.