Almost two decades ago, I spent nearly nine months in hospitals and rehabilitation centers, struggling to recover from brain surgery and a devastating stroke. The stroke had stripped me of my ability to breathe, eat, talk, hear, and move. Regaining even the smallest of these functions was an arduous, painful journey—one that tested every ounce of my strength and resilience.
In the depths of my recovery, when my own thoughts were filled with doubt and uncertainty, I had to rely on external forces to keep me moving forward. Friends and family offered their unwavering support, but their words alone weren’t enough to push me to cooperate with the doctors, let the nurses draw my blood, or give my all in physical therapy. That responsibility fell to the medical professionals—the ones who had to break through my lifelong phobias, lift me from despair, and ignite the determination I needed to fight for my life.
I remember one moment, in particular, when I was recovering from vocal cord surgery and could barely whisper. My sister, knowing my unwavering admiration for Steve Young, wanted to test just how much voice I had left. “Pretend Steve Young is right over there,” she said. “Now call to him.” She knew that if I had any voice at all, my determination to get his attention would find a way to break through. And she was right.
How can you increase your patient’s engagement?
We often hear that we need to tap into our inner resources to overcome hardship, whether it’s recovering from illness, rebounding from heartbreak, or simply making it through the day. But where do those inner resources come from? They stem from our passions—the things that light us up, that make us smile, that give us purpose. Everyone’s inner resources are unique, shaped by what truly moves them. When we recognize this, we can transform those passions into tools for action and resilience.
This philosophy is at the heart of the empathy workshops I lead for healthcare providers. I teach them to find their patients’ “spark”—the inspiration that takes their breath away. But how do you uncover it? Look around. Notice the small details in a patient’s room. A book, a photograph, a sports team logo—each could be the key to unlocking motivation. By tapping into what matters most to a patient, we can help them awaken their own inner voice, empowering them to push forward in ways they never thought possible.
