“Walking is man’s best medicine.” Hippocrates Throughout history and into our present day, all manner of individuals has embraced walking as vital to their existence. Beyond fulfilling a desire for exercise, it restores equanimity, it catalyzes creativity, it fosters contemplation; it connects us to nature. Mahatma Gandhi walked in non-violent protest; for Friedrich Nietzsche, walking […]
Walking: A Universal Doorway Read More »
“….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 »
The “hidden curriculum”, symbolizes those forces and behaviors, both good and bad, that we observe and absorb throughout medical education and training. The question is whether we are fully aware of and above all, in agreement with the playbook that we are following? Without a conscious reckoning with this powerful, pervasive undercurrent in our lives,
Making your “Hidden Curriculum” Visible Read More »
When it comes to career change, despite months and even years of contemplation my clients come to me because they feel stuck, frustrated and hopeless. They can easily list what is wrong with their job- financial renumeration; unhappiness; dissatisfaction; lack of respect; loneliness; boredom; lack of autonomy; conflict – to name just a few. Despite
Creating Career Change: An Act of Creativity, Courage, and Commitment Read More »
(as published on Kevin MD) – https://www.kevinmd.com/2024/01/beyond-resilience-the-urgent-call-for-soul-talk-in-medicine.html Burnout: “an erosion of the soul caused by a deterioration of one’s values, dignity, spirit and will.” Christine Maslach (The Truth about Burnout by Maslach and Leiter) “Shredding of the soul.” Rita Nakashima Brock (Director of the Shay Moral Injury Center at Volunteers of America) The word
Beyond resilience: the urgent call for “soul talk” in medicine 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 »
“The only true voyage would be not to travel through a hundred different lands with the same pair of eyes, but to see the same land through a hundred different pairs of eyes.” Marcel Proust Entrepreneur, investor and author, Tim Ferris, opens his fascinating book Tribe of Mentors with the quote above. Turning 40 and feeling at
Building Your Tribe Read More »
“We are all so much together, but we are all dying of loneliness.” Albert Schweitzer We focus a great deal on “hard skills” in medicine-medical knowledge, clinical skills and competency, surgical expertise. Yet, it is often the “soft skills” that grease the wheels of our life and work. One of our most powerful soft skills
Healing the Hole of Loneliness in Medicine 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 »
