This page offers articles for physicians of all ages and career stages to help you find joy and meaning in your work. Below, find information on the meaning of joy in medical practice, the immediate crisis of physician burnout, tools for transforming your practice into a less stressful work environment, strategies to embrace meaning and awareness in your own life, and more.
(courtesy of the University of British Columbia)
Vote, comment, ask questions, earn credits
By Shireen Mansouri MD CCFP-EM FCFP (biography and disclosures) Disclosures: I am a certified Compassion Cultivation teacher through the Compassion Institute, a non-profit organization in which I have no financial interest. The article is consistent with current recommendations.
“The mental and physical health that comes from being kind to ourselves enables us to take better care of other people.” – Thupten Jinpa, A Fearless Heart
What I did before
I was a perfectionist. I took responsibility for every bad outcome. I felt that if I did not push myself as hard as I could, that I would not be a good doctor. This often showed up as self-judgment. My inner monologue would contain a lot of negative thoughts about my skills and my worth. If something went well or someone thanked me, I did not accept the thanks and would not acknowledge my own role in what had gone well.
I learned, as we all did, to ignore the signals that my body was giving me. I ignored when I was tired, hungry, or just needed a break. I felt that a good physician always puts patients and the work first, regardless of their needs
I also ignored my own emotions. I understood my job was to move from one patient to the next without stopping to process what might have happened in the moment before (a death, a bad diagnosis, a patient sharing a trauma). I did not necessarily “succeed” in doing this, which would result in the emotions coming out in other ways and places: breakdowns in back hallways, snapping at other team members, being less than my best self with patients. This would result in my feeling badly about myself.
And the cycle continued.
What changed my practice
In 2012, I was diagnosed with breast cancer after finding an axillary lump. As a primary care physician, whose focus is often on the prevention of disease, I spent a long time blaming myself for not being able to prevent it or find it earlier. During this time, I learned that I could not be self-sufficient and that I needed to accept help from others.
After treatment, I had the opportunity to take a Contemplative Caregiver course which included Compassion Cultivation Training. In this training, we learned about and practiced self-compassion. When first presented with the self-compassion practice, I felt like I had run headlong into a brick wall. Was I allowed to feel self-compassion? Would I be less of a person if I showed myself compassion? How could I expect myself to do the best job I could if I was not hard on myself? The entire concept seemed to be the antithesis of what I had learned in my medical training and practice.
A few years later, I had the opportunity to become a Compassion Cultivation Teacher. Subsequently, I spent a lot of time looking at the culture of medicine through the lens of Compassion, or maybe I looked at Compassion through the lens of Medical Culture.
This is what I learned:
Compassion is the ability to notice that someone is suffering, feel connected to them, and want to act to alleviate the suffering. There is evidence that this willingness to act to alleviate suffering activates the neural networks associated with care-giving and can result in a “warm glow” or compassion satisfaction.
Self-compassion is the same as compassion but directed towards oneself.
There are three components to self-compassion:
Being able to see and be aware that suffering is present for us.
Understanding that the suffering is part of the larger human experience and that instead of being isolating, it connects us to others.
Having a non-judgmental understanding of our suffering which allows us to be kind to ourselves, treating ourselves as we would a good friend.
I don’t need to have self-compassion to be compassionate to others, but it is likely important in making compassion for others sustainable.
Self-compassion is not:
Self-pity. When feeling self-pity, we feel as if we are alone. When feeling self-compassion, we see that we are experiencing what many others also experience, and are connected to others, rather than being isolated.
Self-indulgence. The awareness in self-compassion, not only allows us to see when we are suffering, but also allows us to identify what will be best for us in the long run.
Self-esteem. Self-esteem requires that we feel superior in some way to others. Self-compassion recognizes our innate sameness and connection to others.
Self-compassion can be a great antidote to imposter syndrome. People with higher self-compassion have lower rates of imposter syndrome.
Self-compassion does not have to be all on you. You can be kind to yourself by receiving compassion from others.
There are barriers to compassion, and identifying and understanding these barriers, can help break them down. Fear of compassion can be one of these barriers, fear of expressing compassion for others and fear of receiving compassion. For instance, one of my fears of accepting compassion from others is that “When people are kind and compassionate towards me I feel anxious or embarrassed.”
Empathy and compassion are not the same things. Empathy, when imbalanced, can drain and lead to empathetic distress. Compassion and self-compassion are innate; both can be trained and don’t “run out”.
What I do now
I meditate, even if it is only 5 minutes some days. For someone trained to be productive every second of the day, this can be incredibly hard. I have discovered that investing time “on the cushion” trains the mind to be more aware. I now notice when I am suffering in some way (physically or emotionally) and then I notice when I am judging myself for either my actions or my reactions to my actions. I find that having a consistent time and place to meditate helps me keep it up. It is like exercise: once it is part of your life, you notice when you don’t do it.
I name it. When I sense that something is difficult, instead of just pushing through it, I take a minute and name it. “This is hard” or “this is a moment of suffering”. Sit with it for a minute or two. Just putting a label on it can make it more manageable.
I take self-compassion breaks. This does not need to take long. When I recognize that I am struggling, I start by acknowledging that I am dealing with something difficult. I acknowledge that there are likely other people in the world experiencing something similar and it is okay to take a moment to treat myself kindly. I think about treating myself as well as I would a good friend; I ask myself, what would I say to a friend in the same situation. Would I speak to them the way I am speaking to myself right now? In my office or at the hospital, this can be just sitting in a private office for a couple of minutes or taking 2 minutes before moving onto the next patient.
I accept compassion from others. First, this takes the ability to notice when it is being offered. Then, if I am pulling back from it, I try to notice the resistance and then note why. I try to consciously turn towards it, and accept it. I remember that, for them, they are also getting a “warm glow” from extending compassion. An example would be when a patient thanks me for something, instead of downplaying it or turning away from it, I intentionally acknowledge and accept the “Thank You”. Practicing in small ways can help make it a regular practice.
I ask for what I need. If it is not being offered, I identify what I need and ask for. If I am frustrated with something, I identify the need I have that is not being met, I think about how to articulate that, and then I ask. Again, this is something that is best practiced in small ways with people with whom you feel comfortable.
I have decided that “fail” is a four-letter word. When I end up being less than compassionate to myself, or others, I try to just notice it, and not beat myself up for it. When I am less than successful at that, I try to just notice again.
I try to notice for others. If I see others using the word “fail”, or not accepting compassion, or being hard on themselves, I try to say something. It is helpful when we share a common language around compassion and self-compassion and have a trusting relationship. Have a check-in buddy, with whom you can feel completely safe and be completely honest.
I practice gratitude. I make sure to notice something every day that I am grateful for and share with family and friends. My favourite practice is The Three Question journal by Naomi Rachel Remen.
At the end of the day I ask myself:
This not only helps me practice awareness, it highlights my connections to others.
Additional Reading
Neff K. What self compassion is not. Self-Compassion. (View) Accessed May 22, 2020.
Neff K. The space between self-esteem and self-compassion. YouTube. (Watch on YouTube) Uploaded February 6, 2013. Accessed May 22, 2020.
Weiss L. Self-compassion could be the secret to stopping imposter syndrome you’ve been looking for. September 4, 2018. (View) Published September 2, 2018. Accessed May 22, 2020.
Gilbert P, McEwan K, Matos M, Rivis A. Fears of compassion: Development of three self-report measures. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice. The British Psychological Society. 2011; 84: 239–255. (View) Accessed May 22, 2020.
Resources
Remen RN. Growing new eyes: the 3 question journal. Rachel Naomi Remen MD. (View) Published July 15, 2013. Accessed May 22, 2020.
Neff K. Self-compassion guided meditations and exercises. Self-Compassion. (View) Accessed May 22, 2020.
Center for Mindful Self-Compassion.
Jinpa T. A Fearless Heart: How the Courage to Be Compassionate Can Transform Our Lives. New York: Avery;2016.
Neff K. Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself. Harper Audio; 2011.
Wilkinson T. Taking care of each other during COVID-19 – peer support for physicians. This Changed My Practice. Published Apr 1, 2020. (View) Accessed May 22, 2020.
Vote, comment, ask questions, earn credits
To comment or ask questions you can also reply to this email. Credits are automatically uploaded to the Colleges.
Previous articles (0.25 credits/article):
Healthcare Professional Well-Being
Beata Chami
Evolving in the era of COVID-19
Drs. Bruce Hobson, Daniel Ngui, Christie Newton, Shirley Sze and Steve Wong
Taking care of each other during COVID-19 – peer support for physicians
Dr. Tandi Wilkinson
Government Assistance Forms: Do they leave you bewildered?
Dr. Janet McKeown
Physician Wellbeing: The Reciprocity of Practice Efficiency, Culture of Wellness, and Personal Resilience
This article originally appeared in NEJM Catalyst on April 26, 2017.
The quality and safety of patient care, and indeed the very vitality of our health care systems, depend heavily on high-functioning physicians. Yet recent data have revealed an extraordinarily high — and increasing — prevalence of physician burnout, defined as emotional exhaustion, interpersonal disengagement, and a low sense of personal accomplishment. In light of compelling evidence that burnout negatively affects patient care, health care leaders are rightly alarmed and are searching for answers.
Beyond Burnout: The Path to Vitality
It is an alarming paradox that as our health care system evolves and achieves higher quality, patient-centered care, there is a growing epidemic of physician and care team burnout. To many, this disconnect represents a “systems problem,” most notably at the frontlines of health care delivery: the community-based delivery of care. Scott Hammond, MD, a family physician leader and president of Westminster Medical Clinic, shares this insight: “Burnout is not [fundamentally] a ‘workload problem.’ It is a work distribution problem exacerbated by workflow inefficiencies, non-value-added work, and loss of autonomy and purpose.”
Employed physicians face unique stresses in practice as they often lack autonomy and influence over business decisions. Here are four ways to protect your wellbeing.
The AAFP introduced Physician Health First, the first-ever comprehensive initiative devoted to improving physician well-being. As part of the initiative, the AAFP launched an interactive web portal with a wealth of well-being resources for members.
While physicians can certainly make changes in their own lives to create balance and joy, the problem of burnout won’t disappear unless employers and medical educators also embrace a physician wellness as a priority. Here’s what a few employers, residency programs, and medical schools are doing to combat burnout in the workplace and help train happier doctors.
Stanford’s Balance in Life program focuses on the professional, physical, psychological, and social health of residents through mentorship and a variety of creative interventions.
Residents understand the problem of burnout and have many ideas, some large and some easy to implement, on how to create a healthier, more successful educational experience. Here are some of their ideas.
Students risk losing the humanistic values that drew them to medicine when they encounter the “hidden curriculum” of medical education that emphasizes detachment and competence over compassion. Learn how this might be at play in your education, and how to immunize yourself from its effects.
A resident’s thoughtful reflection on burnout in medical school and how positive physician leadership made the difference.
Writing and reflection help medical students make sense of their new and often stressful experiences in a healthy, positive way.
How active self-awareness, literature, and a dedication to self-care helped a doctor retain and cultivate his humanity throughout medical training.
Burnout expert Dr. Dike Drummond has gone from a burned-out physician to a wellness coach helping other doctors recover from burnout and find happiness in their careers. For practical tips, see his articles, which were recently featured in Family Practice Management.
The majority of Wisconsin physicians are employed by groups of 50 or more, and this employment situation brings unique challenges for physicians. This is how employed physicians can create balance and avoid burnout.
Physicians who are burned out often ignore the signs until it becomes unbearable. Here’s one physician’s story of how he experienced burnout after years of practice, and how you can identify and stop burnout before it gets too late.
Family, friends, humor, hobbies, and more. Physician leaders share their strategies for avoiding burnout and staying happy in their jobs.
