Our Choice of Treatment

I’m injured. I have Plantar Fasciitis. Frankly, I had never heard of this affliction when I was struck by it, but I sure know it now. Also it seems it is one of the most common causes of heel pain, impacting 10% of our population or about 32.5 million people. It involves inflammation of a thick band of tissue that runs across the bottom of your foot and connecting your heel bone to your toes. It presents itself with a stabbing pain that usually occurs with your first steps in the morning as you get out of bed and rears its ugly head throughout the day after long periods of standing or after rising from sitting.

So why am I telling you this? Because I just want to whine? Because I feel a little left out of the 10%? No. I’m telling you this because I found a great doctor who has me on a path of healing and that path is a metaphor for all of us.

Dr. Bill is an older guy who has specialized in muscular injuries like Plantar Fasciitis for 30 years. In his direct, but kind way he said this; “Brenda, what we’ve been doing so far has been passive treatment, meaning I’m doing the work and you’re getting the benefit. What we’re going to do next is active treatment, meaning you’re going to start participating to achieve the results we want.” There you have it! You see it don’t you? You see how this type of active vs. passive routine is a common one in our worlds. How often does it seem that we expect things to happen in an optimal fashion, but we’re only willing to passively participate? And yes, even though April 15th is right around the corner, I’m not talking about that kind of active/passive stuff. I’m talking about how we work and how we work with others. Are we control freaks that stay in a passive treatment state with others? Or are we active, where we are involved only to the point that the situation calls for. Do we examine and work towards solutions that involve others and puts the responsibility to achieve the desired outcome - success on their shoulders? [CONTINUE READING HERE]