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Editor's Note: Rising above F.E.A.R. in pursuit of dental hygiene dreams

Aug. 21, 2017
Edie Gibson, RDH, the editor of RDH Graduate, explains how dental hygiene is dependent upon rising to the call of dental hygiene dreams.

“Fear: Face everything and rise!” -Author Unknown

Editor Edie Gibson, RDH, MS

Last month, we talked about networking and finding your tribe. I have just returned from the RDH Under One Roof conference in Chicago, the epitome of a networking event that builds and reinforces tribe relations. Congratulations to the four 2017 Award of Distinction recipients who have joined the AOD tribe. Your life is forever changed!

I had the joy of listening to amazing speakers, reconnecting with friends, and creating new friendships. One speaker stood out for me and absolutely nailed it. Her message was this: “Success is a skill, failure is part of success, and failure is not a permanent state.” Thank you, Josey Sewell, for sharing your story! You may be scratching your head at the thought of labeling success a “skill.” For me, it was a light-bulb moment. Ms. Sewell gave three keys to mastering the skill of success:

  1. Operate from your strengths and forget your weaknesses
  2. Set big goals and go for it!
  3. Take massive action

These three tips revolve around pursuing your goals with unwavering, relentless passion. That thought may spark fear in some people. What is fear? It is False Expectations Appearing Real, Face Everything And Run. Or, if you shift your perception to the positive, it is Face Everything And Rise!

Do you run or rise? I recently had the pleasure of mentoring a young clinician who was unhappy in her current clinical job and truly wanted to branch out into her passion, working with the elder population in nursing homes. She had fear of leaving a pay guarantee and entering into the unknown. She connected with another colleague, Angie Stone of Hy-Life Oral Health Alliance, who created an entire business around this concept. She is now rising to the call and pursuing her dream.

Whatever your passion is, whatever your dreams are, whatever goal you have set for your career, face it head on and go for it! Align yourself with likeminded people that will lift you up, not tear you down. As author and poet Erin Hanson wrote, “What if I fall? Oh but my darling, what if you fly!”

Cherish that thought and…

Go out and make it a great day!

Edie Gibson, RDH, MS

[email protected]