The power of affirmation

One powerful tool that I learnt from Martin Jalleh was affirmation. Taken in the wrong and unhealthy context, it may strike someone as being needy of other people's approval and being not confident of one self. But realizing it in real life has proven it to be a source of hope and inspiration, a sustaining power for normal, weary people living their unpredictable lives... like Martin said in his reply to my email 2 days ago, "I have to be contented with the lousy feeling of being taken for granted, or I leave a place feeling unsure whether God's Word have been effectively sown...then comes a very affirming message like yours -- its really healing and encouraging! "

How shocking this was coming from a very established and accomplished speaker and motivator, but it just goes to show that we are all the same... we have of high and low moments... and it doesn't hurt to encourage and affirm each other once in a while...

Yesterday I unconsciously did affirmation with a friend. She emailed me because of a bad day and an unpleasant experience with the people around her... so I could feel her frustration and because she was so open with her thoughts and feelings I was compelled to share something that I kept for a long time that was associated with her... it wasn't something very serious but something that I would say scarred me in the sense that I felt I couldn't forgive myself for my pride and selfishness... and she was just the real gem in the whole story, she was able to push whatever feelings she had and made things right, even though she didn't have to... it was an overdue affirmation for my dear friend, so it was the perfect opportunity to affirm her! All because of God's plan! And later she wrote back to me and said that the affirmation made her day, and in return she affirmed me 10-fold, to which I felt so "shy" and definitely undeserving... but of course my heart leapt for joy and for once in a long, long time, I felt true understanding and a great friendship!

That probably also helped a lot in my headache... not pain today... so far only 1 cup, and it's already 2pm, and I'm feeling ok. :) Last night I slept 10.30pm, so that probably contributed to my better disposition today. I didn't go for the Praise meet because I couldn't keep my eyes open... couldn't even stay up for my CSI Miami...

This morning we had a 3-hour bedside teaching with Dr. Hii... I clerked a 3-month-old baby girl who came in for spinal abnormalities and enlarged kidneys... I was sooo glad that on 1st examination I could elicit the ballotable kidney because my other 2 collegues with me couldn't... and later Dr. Hii confirmed my findings! You know, what really made me feel happy wasn't that my findings were accurate... it was because, at first when my 2 friends indicated that they didn't get the same finding, I didn't flinch... instead, I rechecked and stood my stance... I think in the past, I would have been very weary and unsure and may even change my "stand"... so that's really a milestone for me today...

But I also realized that there's still so much more to cover for my exam on Monday and Tuesday, so after this, no nap... straight hit the books... Geryl actually called and asked whether I'm free for a coffee... so that's really a bummer because I would really love to meet up and chit chat with him... nevermind... I'll catch him next week.

Cheers people! Remember, the power of affirmation...