Finding Motivation During a Stressful Day at Work
You are working at a hospital when a patient becomes frustrated because they have been waiting a long time for an appointment. Although you are already overwhelmed with your responsibilities, you remain calm, listen to the patient, and work towards resolving the situation.
by Tiffany
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Finding Motivation During a Stressful Day at Work
SCENE 1: The Situation A patient approaches me, upset about a long wait. I am already handling several responsibilities, and the situation makes me feel stressed.
Scene 2: My emotional reaction My heart starts beating faster, and I feel tense. I interpret the situation as stressful because I want to help the patient while managing my other responsibilities.
Scene 3: My response I take a deep breath, remain professional and listen to the patient's concerns, and try to find a solution. Helping the patient motivates me to manage my emotions.
Scene 4: The outcome The patient feels heard and becomes calmer. I feel relieved and satisfied knowing that I made a positive difference.
The components of emotion: 1. Subjective experience: I feel stressed, concerned, and eventually relieved. 2. Physiological arousal: My heart beats faster, my muscles become tense, and I take deep breaths to calm myself. 3. Cognitive interpretation: I recognize that the patient is frustrated by the situation rather than personally upset with me. 4. Behavioral expression: I maintain a calm voice, listen carefully, and demonstrate empathy.
References OpenStax. (2020). Psychology 2e. Rice University. https://openstax.org/details/books/psychology-2e Maslow, A. H. (1943). A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370–396. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0054346 Schachter, S., & Singer, J. (1962). Cognitive, social, and physiological determinants of emotional state. Psychological Review, 69(5), 379–399. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0046234
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