How Do You Be Your Best Self in a Vexatious World?

How do we survive, let alone thrive, in health care? The complexity of providing care to patients and families on chronic kidney replacement therapy can be taxing for the most expert and resilient of health care professionals. Further complicating this by a global pandemic can produce feelings of frustration and anxiety that can reduce our effectiveness in the everyday, yet we are compelled to practice competently and professionally. Working on oneself is key to optimizing one's resilience during volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous times. This article introduces the concept of emotional intelligence and provides a brief review of the brain science behind behavioral patterns, highlighting how all health care professionals can engage in self-work to bring our best selves to the every day. Key Words: Emotional intelligence, self-management, insight, managing emotions, brain science, hemodialysis, stress.
We live in a tumultuous time with many competing demands, and COVID-19 has only heightened our emotional, physical, and financial stress. These immense stressors affect our emotional and behavioral responses, [...]