Dear friend, I want you to imagine walking into your workplace tomorrow morning. Before you even clock in, you can feel it—the energy in the air. Maybe it's the heavy sighs at the nurses' station, the eye rolls during report, or the way conversations immediately turn to complaints the moment you enter the break room. You know that feeling, don't you? When you arrive full of energy and purpose, only to have it slowly drained away by the emotional atmosphere around you. But here's what I've learned after years in healthcare: You either breathe oxygen into the room, or you suck it out. The Choice We Don't Realize We Have Most of us think we're powerless against toxic work environments. We believe we have to absorb whatever energy surrounds us, that we're victims of our circumstances. But that's not true. While you might not control your assignment, you absolutely can control the atmosphere around you. You can choose to be the difference maker—the one who brings calm instead of chaos, encouragement instead of complaints. I've seen it happen countless times. I'd get report about a "difficult" patient, and while listening to my colleagues' frustrations, I'd make a silent promise to myself: I'm going to be the one that makes a difference. I'm going to be the one that cracks the code to their heart. And you know what? It worked. Not always, but often enough to prove that our energy matters more than we think. Recognizing the Symptoms of Toxic Energy Before we can change the atmosphere, we need to recognize when we're in a toxic one: * Gossip sessions that masquerade as "venting" * Passive-aggressive tones during handoffs * Heavy sighs and eye rolling becoming the norm * Shortness with patients—the very people we're called to serve * Complaint sessions that spiral into negativity If any of these sound familiar, you're not alone. And more importantly, you have the power to change it. The A in Authenticity: Leading with Your Inner Climate Personal development isn't selfish—it's essential. Your internal peace in the midst of external chaos is something you can cultivate and build. Think about it this way: Your internal climate will either regulate or escalate what's happening around you. I want you to be like the eye in the middle of a storm. When a hurricane rages, there's always a center—a place of complete stillness. If you can become that stillness in the midst of workplace chaos, you'll be able to see beyond the debris. You'll see solutions instead of just problems. Hope instead of despair. Possibilities instead of limitations. The Atmosphere Anchoring Ritual Here's a practical tool you can use before every shift: Before you even walk through those doors, take a moment to ground yourself. Put your hand on your heart, do some intentional breathing, and choose your word for the day. It might be: * Peace * Strength * Love * Clarity * Compassion Then declare: "I bring [your word] into the room." * "I bring peace into the room." * "I bring love into the room." * "I bring calm into the room." This isn't just positive thinking—it's intentional energy management. Protecting Your Atmosphere at All Costs Here's permission you might not know you needed: You're not required to join every complaint session. You're allowed to: * Change the subject * Step out and reset * Protect your peace without apology When negativity starts swirling, try these atmosphere-shifting phrases: * "Let's focus on what we can do today." * "I'm protecting my peace—mind if we talk about something lighter?" * Or simply breathe and walk away Some people will continue their negative patterns regardless of your response, and that's okay. What matters is that you maintain control over your own energy and continue carrying the healing environment you want to deliver to your patients. Leadership is Courage to Regulate Energy True leadership isn't about titles or positions—it's about having the courage to regulate the energy in the room when others won't. I want to be known for my presence. I want people to think, "When she walks in, things get better." I want to bring peace, love, and healing into every environment I enter. I don't want to be the person others avoid because my energy is draining. Your Nursing Identity We have a nursing identity that gives us the power to walk in authority, to walk in love, to walk in all the things our patients and our workforce deserve. Our workplaces could be so much better if we all took ownership of the energy we bring into the room. The Ripple Effect When you choose to be the oxygen instead of the chaos, you're not just changing your own experience—you're creating ripples that touch everyone around you. Your patients feel it. Your colleagues notice it. The entire unit shifts when someone decides to lead with presence instead of participating in the drama. What Word Will You Carry? As you prepare for your next shift, your next meeting, your next interaction, I want you to ask yourself: What word will I carry with me? You know the word—it's been stirring in you as you've been reading this. That's your word for tomorrow. Remember: You have the power to shift the room with just your presence. Breathe peace in. Breathe peace out. You are nobody's garbage can, and you have permission to protect your peace without an apology. What you carry affects what you create. Choose wisely. With love and respect for all you do, P.S. If this resonated with you, I'd love to hear what word you're choosing to carry into your next shift. Reply and let me know—I read every message. P.P.S. Next week, we'll dive deeper into emotional contagion in healthcare and why what you carry affects everything you create. Until then, remember: you're not just showing up to work—you're showing up to heal, and that starts with the energy you bring into the room. Get full access to Coach Charlene at coachcharlene.substack.com/subscribe
