On Core Values – Andrea Beerman, DDS

“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love this quote from Emerson and understood it with greater depth as it reconnected me with one of my personal Core Values -originality.

It reminds me that it is my natural state to follow my own mind – my own unique ideas.  Personally, I know I struggle when I try to do things like
others.  In these instances, I feel like
I am not being my authentic self.   Sometimes,
I have found myself conforming or doing something “the way it’s always been done”, because it seems quicker or easier.

I don’t have to face the truth or something that may take me to my learning edge if I do things in a rote way.  I do not have to make time to enter the “classroom” of silence to know more clearly the path to choose.  In these moments, I know I am not realizing the sacredness of my own mind and
spirit.   With this quote, I am reminded
to continue to trust and tap that potential – the beautiful, unique spark of Life within me.

A friend and mentor of mine encouraged me to find a picture of myself when I was a child and put it somewhere I would see it everyday.  The picture you see above is me at age 4, and it now lives on my desk.

I keep it in front of me, because sometimes I forget who I am in the midst of my busy days.  Of course I am a dentist, but the truth is, deep down – I am still that little girl.  That same bright spirit, eager to
live fully, and embrace life.   All Iwanted then was to be loved, accepted and understood.  What do I want now?  If I answer honestly, I’m not sure the
answers are different.

When I see her picture it makes it really easy for me to forgive myself for all the times I came up short and for the mistakes I’ve made along the way.  I see her innocence when I look at this picture, and remember I am truly doing the best I can with what
I know.

So I have this picture on my desk – to help me remember who I am and what I really want from life.
What I’ve learned – it also reminds me of the truth about others – you, my patients, family and friends.

Beneath the layers of life, lie our bright spirits.
I am at my best – in patient interactions and with my friends and family- when I can see others for who they truly are.   I think E.E. Cummings said it best when he said, “It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.”

I wish you my very best in your journey.

Andrea