Vice President Patient Experience at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Brian Carlson

Earlier this summer, I had the privilege of joining a group and go to a ranch in Wyoming. Since this was my second year, I knew what to expect and was able to settle into the environment shortly after arriving. In my hope to help others, here are a few things I learned about myself and my ability to find true rest and recharge:

Main takeaway: If I can be truly present in the moment, I can slow down my thinking and then truly relax. How did I become truly present?

1)     Be in nature – I was in a stunning place.  The peace of nature helped me to focus on and be present in my surroundings rather than the thoughts in my head.

2)     Cell phones are bad - The location is so remote there is no cell service and thus the cell phone is good for pictures and listening to downloaded entertainment. I was able to be present because I was not constantly checking that thing, so much so that when I decided to stay a few extra days I needed to log on to the staff Wi-Fi (not for guests other than emergencies) to change my flight. As soon as I logged on and my phone started to update, I could feel my anxiety increase and my gut tighten.

3)     I can connect with others without the cell phone – I was able to have conversations and create relationships with others by listening and sharing with them. Taking time to be curious with no interruptions allowed me to both be in the moment and create some meaningful relationships.

4)     It is ok for me to be me – Historically in group settings, I have felt like I must follow the group lead and be part of all activities. This has exhausted me. In this case, I grew confident that I could do what I wanted to do when I wanted to do it, including sitting by the river alone or fishing alone.

"The peace of nature helped me to focus on and be present in my surroundings rather than the thoughts in my head"

5)     Sharing is important – In the past I have had a hard time sharing my feelings and bottling them up did not serve me well. I learned that sharing with others allows space to process my feelings. In the past, I have been too reactionary to my feelings and now I have learned to identify the feeling and decide if I want to do something with them. This practice allowed me to not be consumed by feelings and relax.

By being truly present I was able to relax, which for me was a slower heart rate, a bigger smile, more energy, thinking less, and achieve an overall sense of calm. I have been able to retain some of what I have shared, but the reality is life goes on and the cell phone is back in my hand and I just need to remember to be present.