How often do we make resolutions for behavior change, yet immediately reduce our chances for success by making them completely dependent on willpower. For example, we decide to exercise on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, yet we quickly allow negotiation to enter the picture. We’re tired, have too much work, don’t feel motivated and before we know it […]
“….my understanding is that the first step to take in having a real conversation is simply to stop having the one that you are having now.By definition the courageous conversation is the conversation that you’re not having nowand also, by definition the courageous conversation is the one that you don’t want to haveand the courageous
Courageous Conversations Read More »
Discovering the profound dissonance between their values and those expressed, overtly or covertly, by their workplace is a common theme with many of my physician clients. Initially, they may experience a degree of relief at recognizing that this conflict underlies much of the frustration, anger, anxiety and even sadness that they are experiencing with their
Misalignment of Values: The Canary in the Mine Read More »
I was so infuriated by a client’s emotional account as a recipient of lousily delivered feedback, that I immediately began to pen a blog on the inadequacies of feedback. This has long been an area of concern in medicine, given that feedback provides the backbone of how we learn. Concerns range from feedback underuse (sometimes
The Transformative Skill of Receiving Feedback Well Read More »
“It seemed to be a necessary ritual that he should prepare himself for sleep by meditating under the solemnity of the night sky… a mysterious transaction between the infinity of the soul and the infinity of the universe.” ~ Victor Hugo Rituals, both religious and secular have been part of human cultures the world over,
Changing Routine to Ritual Read More »
Have you thought about this question? At some point in our careers some form of this question will probably arise. Ideally, it would be something that we might reflect upon before we are in crisis. For years, we as physicians are focused on acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary to practice our profession. Skills that
Physicians: Are you designing your career or is it designing you? Read More »
Imagine designing your own compass, where you replace the cardinal directions with a word, a person or a phrase that illustrates the “direction” that you plan to use as your heading for that day. How often do we begin each day without having made these conscious choices about how we are going to approach the
How To Set A Powerful Heading On Your Daily Compass Read More »
After years of education and training the meaning and purpose of medicine deeply embeds itself in the “DNA” of physicians. Burnout was already at an all-time high in physicians prior to the pandemic, and has only worsened since its onset. For some physicians, despite their best efforts, their desire to practice medicine, particularly in the
Physician Career Change: Beware the “Sunk Cost Fallacy”. Read More »
“The awareness that arises from paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, non-judgmentally.” Jon Kabat-Zinn Often when I coach my clients, I find myself returning again and again to the topic of mindfulness. It’s as if I can’t escape the power of its ability to quickly refocus a discussion that is beginning to
Mindfulness in Medicine Read More »
