Humorous and inspirational speakers entertain and challenge attendees during general sessions

AORN Journal,  June, 2004  

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Sunday, March 21, to Thursday, March 25, 2004

Congress attendees had a chance to relax, reflect, and get energized during this year's General Sessions. Speakers taught audience members how to get in touch with themselves, take more pleasure in their lives and careers, stretch outside of their comfort zones, and achieve their full potential.

GETTING IN TOUCH WITH YOUR "HUMOR BEING"

With impressions, anecdotes, and irreverent humor, Steve Rizzo kept the audience laughing through his General Session, "Embracing the Journey"; and that is exactly what he intended to do. It feels good to laugh, and laughing has been scientifically proven to reduce stress, Rizzo said. So why don't we do it more often?

Society has become too serious, technical, and politically correct, and we feel guilty laughing when a situation is tragic. He pointed out, however, that there is a major difference between laughing at something serious and laughing off the fear that a situation creates. Laughter does not mean we are negating the seriousness of the situation, but it gives us the momentary relief to regroup. When situations are the most tragic is when we need humor the most. Laughter sends a message to your brain that if you can still laugh, you can bounce back.

Rizzo told the audience he was there to teach them about their "humor beings"--a higher self that brings out the best in people during the hardest times. He said the qualities of humor beings are that they

* know with unshakable faith that some good will come from tragedy,

* always know they have a choice,

* always see a brighter alternative to a bad situation, and

* make conscious choices to enjoy themselves every day.

Chances in health care take place at a tremendous rate, and nurses cannot afford to let fear and stress determine their actions. It is easy to be the victim and blame outside circumstances, such as the economy, coworkers, or a spouse. It is more difficult to take responsibility for our own happiness.

Rizzo pointed out that nurses can learn a lot from interacting with inspirational patients who may be in pain or not have long to live, but who find the optimism to go on. He used a story about his own brother, Michael, as an example. Michael was injured during the Vietnam War and lost 21 ft of his small intestine. When physicians came to tell his family that Michael would not live through the night, Rizzo watched Michael's hand slowly rise and his middle finger extend. It was then that he knew his brother was going to fight for his life, because he still had his sick sense of humor.

Throughout his recovery, Michael's mindset was never that he had lost 21 ft of intestine, but what he could do with the 1 ft he had left. Michael went on to college, and today, he is a junior high school principal.

Rizzo pointed out, however, that his brother is not any more special than anyone else in the room.

   You have the power to experience any
   challenge from a healthier perspective.
   The thoughts you have about
   challenges in your life ultimately
   determine the outcome and the quality
   of your success.

He urged audience members to find something to laugh at every day before they leave the house, and to spread an "epidemic of laughter at work."

LIZ COWPERTHWAITE

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

BRINGING WONDER AND SOUL BACK TO YOUR LIFE

During the General Session "Second Innocence: Rediscovering Joy and Wonder in Life," John Izzo, PhD, mixed humor, poetry, and heartwarming vignettes to encourage attendees to bring more soul into their lives. One way to bring more soul into your life and work is to pay attention to yourself, said Dr Izzo. "You need to think about what really matters to you." It often is a tragedy that wakes people up to the things they really want to do in life. Do not wait, said Dr Izzo. Concentrate now on what you want to do in your life.

Dr Izzo told attendees to keep a sense of innocence in their lives. Keep a record of the moments that make you realize why you wanted to be a nurse, and pull it out on days when you won der why you became a nurse, said Dr Izzo. "We make a difference even when we don't know we're making a difference," he said, encouraging attendees to remember the small things they do that have an effect on other people's lives.

"I believe many of us are not nearly as good at appreciation as we think we ate," said Dr Izzo, citing a study that found for every positive comment in the workplace, workers made nine negative comments. We give up so easily on each other. That is why it is important to show others appreciation when possible.

Dr Izzo also told attendees they need to pay attention to their craft. The way to keep your internal fire going is to look for ways to improve in what you do. "What are you trying to be better at in your job?" asked Dr Izzo. He also told attendees that they might be surprised at what they can learn from younger colleagues.