Can a right-brained girl find beauty and excellent in the left hemisphere??

Our society is almost exclusively problem-focused. We direct our time and energy into identifying and eliminating our stressors, our struggles and our troubles. Our belief is that a problem-free life is a happy life. Not only is this thinking inaccurate (consider how an absence of pathology does not equate to well-being), it also minimizes the impact we can create by identifying and maximizing our strengths.

The field of Positive Psychology’s foundation is built on identifying and exploring strengths. The VIA or Values in Action is a rigorously researched, culturally inclusive, FREE survey that helps you determine your top character strengths. When I completed this test, I was surprised by my top strength, Appreciation of Beauty and Excellence. As a psychotherapist, and family of origin confidant and problem-solver, I assumed my #1 signature strength would be Curiosity, Kindness or Perspective, which ARE included in my top seven strengths. When I read this description I realized that the VIA knew me better than I consciously knew myself.

“You routinely see beauty all around you. You appreciate quality in workmanship, in everyday tasks and excellence in events. You notice and appreciate beauty in the little things. You often find yourself in awe of things that others take for granted. People high in this strength are frequently “caught” in wonder and admiration by what they experience around them.”

I was astonished how the VIA put to words the way I deeply experience the strength, vulnerability and honesty of those I work with and those I love. It understood my appreciation of a novel that combines gorgeous writing with substance. It nailed my awe at golden round bales in a green field and validated how certain music paints a vivid picture in my mind. It even clarified my overwhelming memory of, and attachment to, the unique smell of The Barn Theater, I loved to experience with my grandma as a child.

I began to wonder if I could use this strength to approach, appreciate and even find beauty in the tasks I consistently avoid (which of course then become struggles, stressors and troubles.) I made the decision to apply, stretch and test my number one core strength to my long neglected issues with insurance billing and accounting for my practice (even writing this make me think “UGH.”) Can this fundamentally right-brained girl, find beauty, awe and inspiration in the left hemisphere?

I have observed that when I appreciate beauty and excellence my mind slows as a means of savoring. My sense of time vanishes and I am immersed in the present moment. I take my time, pay attention to detail and am eager to experience more. This is diametrically opposed to the way I approach these dreaded, but essential tasks. As a means of giving myself the structure and time to allow this approach a fair chance I have broken down the tasks into five days, a maximum of 2 hours per day. While I feel internal resistance as I type, my natural curiosity over what I will discover is stronger.

Monday, 6/9, 1:00-3:00: Approach the experience of discovering how BCBS reimbursements are linked to claims and post several to appropriate accounts. Note to self: Keep in mind that this is new learning so take the time needed to allow the process to unfold in its own time. Don’t hesitate to call or ask for help. Know that the beauty is in the journey, not in the completion of the task. Give yourself partial credit for approaching instead of avoiding and for discovering what you can about this aspect of your practice. Remember to take your time with checking insurances for new clients this week to avoid unnecessary errors.

Outcome: I felt calmer driving into work as I remembered that I only had BCBS to focus on. I was able to get all remittance logged. I had a few interruptions, but all in all was able to switch gears for a short time and get back on track. I feel much more comfortable with this process and plan to complete all remittance at least weekly, so as not to get overwhelmed.

Tuesday, 6/10, 9:00-11:00: Uncover 1-3 insurance opportunities that need attention. Develop a realistic plan of action for resolving these opportunities. If time remains, take one step toward resolution of one claim. Note to self: Avoid the tendency to rush through this part of your practice. The deeper your level of understanding of what needs to be done, the more predictable and streamlined the process becomes in the future.

Outcome: I again felt more calm and focused knowing that I had a defined goal to accomplish. This seemed to increase my openness to new learning. I was able to identify and begin to solve 1 insurance issue. Midway through the day, I almost spilled my diet coke on my desk. In an effort to avoid the spill I corrected the cup. Three drops of liquid fell on my Apple Air keyboard. The computer went instantly dead. Many expletives uttered, major gnashing of teeth, an abundance of cognitive distortions, experiment over, more expletives. Worked myself into a frothy lather.

Wednesday, 6/11, 8:30-10:30: Create and fax the necessary documents to the VA for review of unpaid claim. Contact their claim clearinghouse to ensure documents have been received and are correct. Clarify any questions. Note to self: Keep in mind that this is a challenging system to navigate. Stay calm, be kind, curious and on point. This is a huge opportunity to learn more about this organization.

Outcome: Unable to access records due to computer crash, fewer expletives, minor teeth gnashing, minor lather…NOT frothy. Computer sitting in bag of rice in an attempt to dry it out (I found this idea on a Google search.)

Thursday, 6/12, on your drive into work: Reflect back on what you have discovered about these aspects of your practice. What do you know now that you didn’t at the beginning of the week? What surprised/excited you about approaching these tasks in a new/different way? What did you learn? Note to self: This is a BUSY day for you. Avoid the urge to insert tasks in opportunities to reflect. Take the time to enjoy your lunch. Hydrate.

Outcome: computer still in bag of rice, enjoyed my lunch, hydrated. Made plans to have a friend to dinner on Monday and meet up with others on Wednesday, life without Air continues,

Friday, 6/13, 8:00-10:00: Engage in the challenge of understanding and applying co-pays that involve deductibles. Think about creating a process for applying these payments to avoid future confusion. Reflect back on the week and note what you have experienced about these days and yourself. Did you experience moments of awe, wonder or excellence? How do you think about yourself as a result of directly approaching this part of your practice from a perspective of strength? Note to self: Allow yourself to bask in what you have learned, uncovered, experienced. Create a way to reward yourself for embarking on this new journey.

Outcome: Went to Apple store with computer after rice idea failed miserably. Genius Bar folks made sounds that led me to believe my Air was a lost cause. They told me I was LUCKY the computer didn’t catch on fire. They discovered internal organs or fried and needed to be replaced. My computer is in transit to unidentified Apple facility to have $775.00 worth of work done. Unsure if data would be saved.

Epilogue: This exercise reminded me of the song lyrics by the Rolling Stones “You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you just might find, you get what you need.” While I did not follow my timeline (as is typically the case when the universe has a different life lesson to teach), I discovered that my micro-world didn’t stop turning when I stepped away from work. I engaged more fully with friends. I found creative ways to solve the problem of no computer. I went to lunch. I appreciated the understanding of my clients when unable to print necessary forms and homework for them. I observed that I had a choice to fault-find and rally against the reality of this situation or look for the benefits and roll with it. My computer issue wasn’t the end of the world, but rather a minor incontinence. I could have remained upset about this twist of fate; felt the universe was conspiring against me or complained about the injustice of it all. My husband has an Israeli saying “Is it TRUE and is it TERRIBLE? While it was TRUE, it was not TERRIBLE.

PS….. They saved the data and I now have a drink cup with a screw top lid in my office.