What Falls Away
Gardeners know that to encourage healthy blooms in spring, you must prepare in fall by pruning away old growth. The same can be said for us as psychiatric-mental health nurses (year-round) and our ability to connect! By discarding what does not serve us in our practice, we create space that allows us to reach out to those in our care and be receptive as they respond to us.
Leave it to psychiatric-mental health nurses to build a resource that can support us and others in both pruning and blooming! Can you believe that over the last year we built a Connection Paradigm together?! Of course we did! Now – let’s take a quick look at one of my favorite parts. In our final version of the paradigm (pictured here), the circle of connection is supported by sixteen Attributes of a Therapeutic Self, all of which were identified by you, the literature, or other experts in the field.
Copyright American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2024
I’ve had an opportunity to personally contemplate each and every one of the attributes as I have prepared the paradigm. At first glance, I wanted to give myself an “A” for application, but when I started diving deeper into the characteristics of each attribute, I realized I can do better at expressing or embodying many of them more fully. What about you? Are you bringing forward these attributes fully in your encounters with those you care for to promote healing, recovery, and well-being?
I’ll share many other discoveries related to the Connection Paradigm, such as the “fruits of connection”, in my President’s Address at the APNA 38th Annual Conference this October 9-12. We will consider ways of enhancing the ability within ourselves and others to connect. Importantly, we will have our own opportunity over several days to connect with each other in meaningful and intentional ways throughout the conference!
As this will be my last President’s Message, I want you to know that serving you and APNA in this role has been such a bright light and honor in my life. I have beamed with pride throughout the year at the extraordinary work of our members, Councils, Committees, Work Groups and Task Forces, State Chapters, Board of Directors, and APNA staff. While I am truly no poet, I felt called to write you a poem that represents the spirit of the work we have done together as a parting gift of gratitude. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your APNA President.
I Am Well Today
May I pay attention to the stirring deep within,
Silence all distractions, all the noise, and begin,
To connect with intention, to see and be seen,
Engage in ways that matter, practice humility.
For the fruits of a connected self are gateways to much more,
Trust, peace, hope, belonging – how they help us soar,
To the heights of well-being, bringing healing, and recovery,
Comfort, safety, a sense of control – preventing further injury.
Connection is fundamental to a life well lived,
Yet rarely noticed as the free and glorious gift it is,
Quite possibly the most important thing I can do each day,
Do I seek it? Do I offer it? Do I cultivate it in every way?
For when my time has come to lay my head for its final rest,
Will I close my eyes knowing I have done my best,
To connect with others, self, and spirit in purposeful, meaningful ways,
Loved and forgiven, listened closely, fully engaged?
Will I know I lived my days by my values and highest priorities,
Denied my pride and steadied my soul through spirituality,
Pruned the qualities that led me astray, and nurtured those that paved the way,
For myself and others to confidently say “I am seen. I am loved. I am well today.”
– Lora E. Peppard
Published September 2024
