Winning Attitudes
August 16th, 2010
Over the years I’ve noticed a number of traits and behaviors among correctional workers who manage to stay healthy and effective on and off the job. Read more…
Archive
Posts Tagged ‘attitude’
Sanity Tip–Think Ahead
October 22nd, 2009
Thinking ahead, being proactive instead of reactive, can often save our sanity. Here are some ways to do that.
- Anticipate problems and take measures ahead of time to reduce or even eliminate their impact.
- Manage your money wisely to reduce your financial stress. Read more…
Sanity Tip–Empower Coworkers
October 16th, 2009
Be a force for positive change. Empower your colleagues. Point out progress, no matter how small. Tell them what value they contribute to the team and the institution. Read more…
Workplace Entanglements
September 9th, 2009
As in other branches of law enforcement, sexual involvement is not uncommon between corrections employees who are married or in otherwise committed relationships. These behaviors cause a multitude of complications in the workplace and can also wreak havoc in people’s personal lives.
Here are some thoughts as to why corrections staff may get entangled in such relationships, even after they have witnessed similar situations ending in shipwrecks. Read more…
Sanity Tip–One Day At A Time
August 18th, 2009
Years ago I was told that the only way I was going to get though life sane was to do one day at a time. Being someone who likes to plan ahead and cover the bases for all kinds of possibilities (including worst-case scenarios), I found the statement ONE DAY AT A TIME at first to be naïve, overly simplistic. Yet looking back on my life now I see how putting this principle to practice was the only way I made it when faced with undertakings that intimidated me and made me shake in my boots. Read more…
Sanity Tip–Give
August 11th, 2009
Have you heard the saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive?” It’s true! It’s really, really true! I can attest to the fact that giving has gotten me out of funky moods, expanded my perspective, and enlarged my heart. There is even a study that used a brain scanning procedure called fMRI which showed that giving money to a charity activated pleasure-related regions in people’s brains. Read more…
Sanity Tip–Forgive
August 4th, 2009
At the age of 29 I had a radical spiritual encounter that drove the importance of forgiveness home to me. I’d barely come out of an atheist mindset, so spiritual realities were new to me. The message I received was that if I wanted to heal from a recent divorce, I needed to forgive.
Not knowing how to forgive but desperately wanting to recover, I decided to go for it. That day was the kick-off of a process that lasted many, many, many months. I am absolutely convinced I am saner for it (and for “forgiveness rounds” with other people since then).
Sanity Tip–Optimism
July 27th, 2009
While growing up my grandma repeatedly quoted to me the ancient Greek saying, There is nothing bad without some good mixed in with it. (The way you say it in Greek is, Outhen kakon amiges kalou.) The English equivalent is, There’s a silver lining in every cloud. So since early on in my life I was taught to identify positives in the midst of negatives. This practice has contributed greatly to my sanity to this day.