I was invited to work on a health promotion video about Cholesterol, Diabetes, and Hypertension. At first, I thought, “No problem!” The twist, though, arrived next. It would be more than just myself and my camera in my makeshift basement studio; it would not be the typical recording I’m used to. Instead, I had to leave my comfort zone and participate in a focus group while seated in a circle at a salon in their neighbourhood.
FEAR was my initial response. This was something I had never done before. Even though I’ve directed conferences and seminars, I was typically guided by PowerPoint presentations. This time, the goal was to have a conversation by listening to their living stories and using them as teaching opportunities to talk about various medical disorders, causes, and investigations, as well as how to interpret test results and preventative measures.
One of the hurdles I had to overcome was allowing them to share their stories while ensuring everyone could be heard. As a health practitioner, I had to know when to intervene and use a conversational approach to advance health and well-being teaching.
However, I faced my F.E.A.R head-on and turned it into a strength:
F: Faith: I felt that I could relate to the focus group because of my faith in God, my abundance of experience, and my faith in myself.
E: Empowerment: Through our relationship, I provided them the tools they needed to lead healthy lives and be well.
A: Assurance: I knew that things would work out because I remained faithful, and it did.
R: Resilience: Whenever self-doubt surfaced, I overcame it immediately by deciding that the conclusion would benefit the focus group and myself.
As you know, I love to glam up for my camera activity because it boosts my confidence. My motivation increases when I look good. I look forward to sharing the highlights after the documentary’s editing. Overall, it was a long day, but I was excited to go home, shower, and cuddle up in bed with my hot chocolate.
I offer this to inspire you to face F.E.A.R. with Faith, empowerment, assurance, and resilience. I wish you a fantastic week ahead.
Yours Sincerely,
Dr. Agnes