Self-gratitude: rising above humility, gaining confidence, and accepting compliments

By Lisa Wadsworth, RDHAt the beginning of 2012, these words helped us treat our inner selves with respect, and to ask ourselves what would make us feel more fulfilled personally and professionally. We invited you to share your views and ideas.Some assistants wrote to the group, some chose to write to me via email. We encouraged responses to be shared only in the group. The goal of the forum is to help each other grow stronger, and to begin the process of networking. Networking is the key to communication across our national dental assisting community. If a collective group of like-minded assistants talk, write positive thoughts, and share ideas, we will grow stronger.What does growing stronger mean to us personally, professionally, and collectively?Personally: Growing stronger for some means looking at your accomplishments and holding an inner confidence that you’re proud of your professional knowledge. You hold yourself in high esteem for how you conduct yourself in your practice or work setting. It is a feeling of self-worth and confidence, regardless of praise from others.Professionally: Your inner confidence and self-worth will be noticed by your peers and employers. In time, your inner praise will produce outward praise for you. Are you able to receive a compliment without following the nice comment with self-deprecation? Are you able to utter a simple “thank you,” make eye contact, and keep the conversation flowing?Collectively: The importance of networking melds us into a united front. If we as assistants feel alone and burdened with our challenges, yet do not reach out to our constituents, who do we have to blame when no one answers our calls! The art of dentistry cannot thrive and champion the best for our patients if dental assistants are not front and center on that line and involved in patient care and decision making.This month, I ask you to pause and allow yourself a moment of reflection and appreciation for what you DO know about dentistry. Take some quiet time to put a pen to paper, or better yet, post in this blog what you bring to the practice of dentistry. Please be proud; do not discount anything. What may seem mundane to you may be a new outlook for someone else.As for me, my first task of the New Year was to reflect and write down 25 personal achievements that I am proud of this year. Wow, what a daunting task, I thought! That meant I would have to accept 25 compliments from myself. It was a hard project to start, but once I got rolling I realized how much I had accomplished. It made my personal light shine!Comments on this blog are welcome from all points of view. Tell us what makes you tick or what you would like to learn about. Might it be how to accept praise from your employer without discounting your abilities?Author bioLisa C. Wadsworth, RDH, owns her own company, Lisa C. Wadsworth Inc. With more than three decades of experience in the implant and periodontal arenas, she began her career as a dental assistant, progressed to certification in Implant surgical assisting, and lastly a degree in dental hygiene. She enjoys writing and lecturing on Implant dentistry, case presentations, professional development, and ergonomics. Her latest career move is into personal and professional development coaching. She can be reached at (215) 862-5912 or [email protected].