Latest Journal Posts
It’s Always a Practice
I knew I had been exposed to someone who had covid. I hoped that the many boosters I had had would be enough to protect me, but when the new cough started and persisted through the night, I knew it was time to test.
So I did. Twice. Because after a month spent writing about acceptance, it apparently remains something I have to work on. Which is probably why I chose to spend time on it. It’s still potent for me.
Acceptance Vignettes
As physicians, we are used to being on the other side of acceptance. We deliver the diagnosis, the treatment plan, the surgical option, and the bad news. We assist the patient and family to reach that place of acceptance. We also get to see what happens when patients fight with reality. When they don’t take medication or follow through on recommendations. Maybe they seek multiple second opinions in search of another reality. Their health can suffer and they certainly suffer emotionally.
The Power of Acceptance
Acceptance means taking stock of the situation and not fighting it. Instead of judging it or having a strong emotional reaction to it, take a deep breath. Stop arguing with yourself or others about how it “should” be. You can easily argue that you’re right about how it should be. But being right won’t really help you. It just keeps you stuck fighting an illusion. How it “should” be is a distraction. It is different from the reality you are actually facing.
Do You Have Vacation Resistance?
With the end of summer comes the end of the high travel and vacation season. But some physicians and healthcare workers don’t take a vacation in the summer, or hardly at all. This is not good for your long-term health and well-being. I’ve heard many reasons for this and will try to address them with some ideas for solutions.
Vacation as Medicine
What if I told you there was a medicine that would improve your wellbeing, productivity, and creativity while decreasing your risks of heart disease, stroke, and chronic illnesses caused by stress?Because that medicine exists. It’s called vacation. It’s not exactly free, but the money you spend on it is well worth it for your longevity in work and in life.
Are You Fitting In? Or do you BELONG?
Communities are a great social, emotional, and informational resource. They are mainly available to you for free. Hopefully, you feel you belong to several communities in different aspects of your lives. You may actively join a community or simply be part of it based on a role, education, or interest. But how do you actually feel part of a community? In other words, how do you feel like you truly belong?
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