RESILIENCE
CONQUERING UNCERTAINTY: EMBRACING RESILIENCE AND RELEASE
I
t’s only when I’m quiet that I can listen and receive what is being conveyed to me. The transformative power of surrendering control to allow messages to be shared is freeing. When we slow down and relax, we can truly receive the information. My understanding of this, although realized later in life, has brought about an incredible shift. In 1994, I started my career as a dental assistant. At that time, I was uncertain about my career path. I juggled working overnight on an ambulance as an EMT and working in the dental office during the day. While my initial goal was to become a nurse, my experience as an EMT made it clear that nursing was not the right fit for me. I was anxious about not being able to determine my future. However, it was the dental hygienist I worked with who suggested pursuing hygiene school. It was an obvious choice! I enrolled at Prairie State College, carrying with me the valuable experience and encouragement from my first dental office. In 1998, I completed my dental hygiene degree. As a typical, enthusiastic new hygienist, I was thrilled with my new checks from the bank featuring teeth – does that date me or what?! Initially nervous, I eventually settled into my career as a dental hygienist. The structured nature of the role suited my Type A personality, as everything was systematic and organized. My decision to pursue this field was driven by the desire to earn a decent income while working part-time once I had children, in line with our plan after getting married in 1995. We welcomed our first child in 2001, then another in 2003. This marked a turning point in my life’s order. The following year, my husband was laid off from work, shifting the dynamic from my part-time career
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By Joy Lantz, PHDH, COM®, IBCLC
to becoming the primary provider for our family. It was certainly a challenging time, prompting questions about why this was happening. Despite feeling a lack of control, I found comfort in the organization and structure of my work. Soon after we had our last child in 2006, I discovered the topic of myofunctional therapy. My three children had issues that I could not explain, even with my healthcare background. My oldest son had never-ending reflux and was medicated for it. My middle child had issues sleeping. My daughter sucked her thumb and this lasted until she was around 5. Shockingly, these issues had a connection to things happening in their mouth. How could I not know this? Why were we not taught this in school? Unfortunately, my husband was laid off two more times after 2007. My desire to go to classes and learn a new skill could not be fulfilled at that time. I settled into a routine while working full time. Reflecting on my journey, it is evident that the path to fulfillment often involves unexpected turns and challenges. The initial phase of my career as a dental hygienist provided a sense of order and structure that resonated with me. However, the arrival of children and subsequent financial challenges due to lay-offs disrupted this order, leading to a period of uncertainty. After a decade, in 2016, I finally had the opportunity to enroll in my first myofunctional therapy course. Stepping outside my comfort zone was both scary and exciting. To my surprise, it refreshed my approach to patient care. The course was truly enlightening and set me on an unstoppable journey of learning. I dove into various aspects of myofunctional issues and began treating patients, starting with my own three children. Initially, I faced challenges as my office was not entirely supportive
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