Tip 2: Recognise Patterns

"Green as a leaf" (CC BY 2.0) by Criss!

I want to start this conversation with the concept of the interdisciplinary team - a group of health care professionals from diverse fields who work in a coordinated fashion toward a common goal for the patient.

I would like to widen the definition to include writers and philosophers. In the name of interdisciplinary work, I suggest that author Gretchen Rubin (Better than Before, www.gretchenrubin.com) has some very good ideas to achieve a life that is consistent with one’s values.

GRETCHEN RUBIN’S FOUR TENDENCIES

Gretchen writes that we have four distinct ways of meeting expectations. She divides these into inner expectations (e.g., a decision we ourselves have made or a New Year’s resolution) and outer expectations (e.g. what our spouse or boss expects of us).

• UPHOLDERS find it easy to meet both inner and outer expectations.

• QUESTIONERS find it easy to meet inner expectations, but find themselves questioning other’s requests – and will only comply if it makes sense to them.

• OBLIGERS find it easy to meet outer expectations, but difficult to hold to their own resolve.

• REBELS find it difficult to meet both inner and outer expectations; they are more likely to be motivated by flames of enthusiasm and passion, or negative consequences.

Imagine that you hold these four tendencies in the back of your mind as you are listening to someone talk about their difficulties. It can start to guide your questions and reflections, to focus on what might work for that person. For example:

Someone who has ‘obliger’ tendencies may find it easier to exercise regularly if they have outer accountability, if they are attending a gym or have a training partner.

Someone who has ‘questioner’ tendencies will benefit from being given the latest research results for a particular medication.

Someone with ‘rebel’ tendencies will respond to good listening and validation of their uniqueness – that they will find their own, unique way to solve the problem.

And someone with ‘upholding’ tendencies can be helped to understand the conflicting demands, and to prioritise more effectively.

Do you recognise yourself in these patterns?