If It Is Meant To Be, It Is Up To Me
The GIFTS system means:
“G” stands for giving
“I” stands for Integrity
“F” is Focus and Follow through
“T” stands for trust and “S” is Source.
There are five GIFTS and you have to go five-for-five! All the GIFTS have to be working at the same time because if you are not using one of the GIFTS, it’s going to be a problem. That potentially means your license and your livelihood could be put at risk.
Let’s take a deep dive and learn all about the “S.” “Source” is the most important of all the GIFTS and probably the hardest one for me to describe because “S” is not something that I can teach you, you can’t learn it. It is a mindset, a way of thinking.
You are the “source.” You are the producer, the writer and the actor about everything in your life. The “source” is about ownership, owning what happens in your life and being responsible. Being responsible not from a standpoint of fault or blame but that you are responsible for what happens in your life and profession.
If you’re responsible and own what is happening in your life, you can do something about it, you can make a decision, make a different choice. There is a freedom for you to consider and select from options to any situation. By being the “source” you can take control and take your power back to reclaim yourself and your profession.
As the source, you create your own reality. You’re the one who is responsible. By being the “source,” you get to make changes that can improve patient care and, after all, that’s why we went into nursing.
Now, I’m not saying that if you get in a car accident or somebody tells the supervisor something about you that it is your fault and you’re the one to blame by taking responsibility and being the source. Here “source” doesn’t involve fault or blame. Source is a mindset, a position you take that you are responsible.
The best thing about taking the position to be the source is that if you are responsible for my life, then if something is not working well, you can do something about it. For example, my weight! I could blame it on my kids for bringing junk food into the house and selling Girl Scout cookies or a multitude of other things. But I am the one who chooses what I eat and I am the one who is responsible for my weight…no one else.
So I know it’s a difficult concept to master, but once you take that stand and be the source of your life, you’ll be amazed at what you can create and how successful you are going to be in your career.
Remember, all five GIFTS, five-for-five, have to be running at the same time. And definitely “source,” that mindset, is one of the most important to help be the nurse you want to be for your patients who are depending on you.
By being the source, if something is meant to be, it is up to me, you and all of us to create what we want in our profession. Be the “source,” use your GIFTS, and empower yourself to be the best nurse you can be and to protect your license as well. So, for now, have an empowering day and happy nursing!
