Utilizing Facts for Effective Decision-making and Productivity
I recently was experiencing a medical issue that was annoying and bothersome, particularly because I couldn't figure out on my own what the cause was. I was seeing flashes of light on the side of one eye. When the room was light, I saw dark flashes. When the room was dark, I saw bright white flashes.
With my medical background, my mind was on overtime, conjuring up all kinds of illnesses and conditions that could be the cause of the flashes that I was experiencing. The longer I went not knowing, the more dire my internal narrative was becoming.
An Unexpected Diagnosis
After three days of spending the majority of my days in a semi-darkened room, with hardly any appetite, (although I did get a lot of writing done) my husband talked me into going to see our family practitioner. Luckily, I was able to get in the next day, which was great, because my mood just kept getting more and more sour.
I was only mildly relieved after seeing her that at least I wasn't having a stroke, but when she said that I needed to see the eye doctor right away, I immediately thought that I probably only had a day or two before I lost all sight in one of my eyes.
My eye exam included a number of medications, tests, exams, photos. and really bright lights shone into my eyes. There was lots of sitting and waiting, going from machine to machine. The doctor and the technician kept telling me to 'breathe', which I hadn't even realized that I wasn't doing. After over a very long hour and a half, the doctor finally was ready to deliver her diagnosis. I really wasn't breathing now! And what did she say? Old age! Really?! I had spent three days in a darkened room to hear that?
Through Clarity Comes Vision
As we left the clinic with instructions from the doctor to not engage in strenuous activities while I was seeing the flashes, (I couldn't get her to put vacuuming on that list), I was immediately aware of how good I felt. My appetite had returned. I was in a great mood! The sunglasses that I had been wearing even in the house, I now thought of as a fashion accessory. When I returned home, I thought about how many times I have let my imagination run away with me. And I don't mean in a creative way. Like how much time I spend fretting and wondering about something when it would be so much better if I just got the facts and then moved on.
I thought about how I had heard on a podcast that someone who had taken control of her finances and over spending had done so by knowing every day what her bank account balance was. She used the facts to her advantage, to not just fret about finances and wonder what her financial situation was, but to really know. And make sound financial decisions based on facts.
I have actually started doing something similar, where I keep a clipboard with my account balances on my desk so that if I am tempted to sign up for a class or webinar, I think first about can I really afford it? Will the knowledge or connection serve me financially, either in the immediate or down the road?
While I don't have a problem with my finances, I feel like this is a good example of where having the facts can help me make good decisions. And allow me to get more accomplished, and be more productive, rather than spending time, and energy, in a non-creative way, on what-if?
Anyway, that's the way 'eye' see it!
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