With Mayo Clinic oncologist Edward T. Creagan, M.D.

"Letting go and attitude." We hear that over and over in our discussions about stress. Let me explain how these two issues came home recently.

A wonderful opportunity arose for me to speak to a group of nurses who deal with challenging medical problems under difficult circumstances. The hours are long; the patients demanding; and issues of sleep and fitness are crucial. I shared with the audience the comments of one of my pilot friends who mentioned that when we are sleep deprived we may not know that our performances are suboptimal. Studies confirm this.

We may feel alert, but studies of judgment, hand-eye coordination, and motor skills are dramatically impaired. In other words, we may feel on top of our game, but without a fundamental level of fitness, we are clearly impaired.

At the end of my presentation, I asked the audience what were their survival tactics and skills. What could I learn from them? Two recurrent comments focused on the importance of attitude. The way I view the day, the way I react to circumstances, determines how my day will be.

If I approach a situation with negativity and pessimism, the situation can consume me. On the other hand, if I view the situation as a challenge and as an opportunity, the results are far more optimistic and positive.

I also heard the comment of "disengagement." This is the gift or the skill of unhooking or separating ourselves from a serious situation so that the next day we can be rejuvenated and go back into the arena, into the office, into the professional environment to do the best that we can for the next patient, the next customer, the next family, the next vendor with whom we deal. Yes, attitude creates reality.

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