I have been pondering the fact that in our society, we are very quick to attach labels to people. It is very easy to look at an individual and place him or her in some type of box, or often multiple boxes, without considering the various factors and influences that have shaped that particular person and make them the person that they are.
I think almost everyone is guilty of labeling and categorizing people, and I believe this can be particularly true when one works in one of the helping professions. For those in the medical profession, I think it is probably easy to think of a particular patient as "this elderly woman who is diabetic and suffers from hearing loss", or "this man who has prostate cancer and is facing a knee replacement", and not necessarily to see the whole person in the process. By the same token, I think service coordinators, social workers, and those in similar professions can easily think of an individual coming to them for help as "this young man who is on dialysis and needs Medical Assistance" or "this young woman who is bipolar and needs to find a therapist".
Everyone has a story, but how often do we take the time to find out something about that story? I realize that in the helping professions, not every encounter with a person in need will present the opportunity to find out something about that individual's unique story. But sometimes I think people are ready to share something about their own background, their own story, that could assist us in determining the best ways to help them. Perhaps they have had positions of leadership and can readily take charge of their own care, once they are given some direction. Perhaps they have always been dependent on other people and need a little more guidance, and encouragement, as the best course of action is determined. And maybe they have anecdotes to share and just need someone to listen for a few minutes, as they reveal a part of their own story with someone who shows that they care.
How can we be more open to the story of each person we encounter as individuals who serve in the helping professions? How do we show that we are interested in who they are and in what their journey has been? Maybe it is mostly a matter of really listening for openings as we converse with those who come to us for help, and taking the opportunity to find out something about their own unique story as we seek to help them continue on their journey in life. And sometimes we can share a little of our own story, too. Just think of how we might encourage and inspire each other if we seek to do this!
