Look inward

When it comes to inspiration, you are the person you’ve been waiting for. by Kelly M. Spagna, RDH

From talk shows to magazines it’s almost impossible to go an entire day without hearing about the role inspiration plays in people’s lives. It’s often at the root of a wide range of accomplishments; it can be the drive behind reaching a long term goal or just scoring a goal in the day’s big game. There’s no question that inspiration is a very powerful tool.

As our lives become more complex, however, we can lose sight of inspirational moments and those opportunities that prompt us to be better. There’s no question that these opportunities exist for all of us and that we can embrace them. We are, after all, dental hygiene professionals—becoming one took some sort of inspiration! Think about when you decided to become a dental hygienist. Do the things that inspired you then still inspire you today? What are some new things in your life that motivate you?

Our profession is weighted by routine and repetition, underscoring the need to be intentional about inspiration. Based on my own experience, inspirational quotes are a great place to start. By this, I mean the kind of quotes that really speak to you, as if someone wrote it in response to your needs. This might mean spending some time online (www.inspirational-quotes.info), seeking them out and reading more than one, but when you find the right one, let it go to work for you.

Other tips: Try keeping pictures on hand of people who are accomplished and have made great strides in their profession. For example, any hygienist can appreciate a photo of Dr. Esther M. Wilkins as someone to relate to and draw encouragement from. Also, remind yourself of what may have inspired you in the past, and be open to new insightful options. Whether it’s a picture, words to a song , or giving someone a compliment—whatever it is, allow it to be just what you need in that moment.

Let’s face it, very few of us woke up this morning and said, “I’m going to read something today that will help me boost my life and career in a more positive direction.” We don’t say this because most of us don’t place the right amount of value on inspiration and the self satisfaction that can come with it. But it can and should be an important piece in the puzzle of who you are, where you are, and what you want. The fact of the matter is, we can unveil more about ourselves than we ever knew existed or even thought possible with just a simple inspirational influence.

Kelly Spagna, RDH, has been in dental hygiene for nine years. She has practiced in general dentistry as well as periodontics. She is married with four children. She is near completing a BS in nursing and is very excited to compliment her dental hygiene career with her nursing education. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, gardening and getting together with friends. She credits her mother, a dental assistant, for inspiring her to join the dental field. Ms. Spagna hopes to one day speak at seminars about topics that include aspects of both the dental and medical fields.