On National Doctor’s Day, we’d like to share a true story. I was contacted by a physician who was interested in coaching. The client’s complaint was: “I don’t like who I’m becoming.” On further exploration (we coaches are curious beings!), the physician was a relatively new leader who managed a small clinical department but had to interface with numerous others to coordinate care. This female physician said that she found herself becoming more reactive and angry and feared that she would alienate people instead of inspiring their partnership.
I inquired about her life and she mentioned that she had been providing direct care during the ongoing pandemic; that she was the primary caregiver to a parent who died 3 months earlier; and that she was the mother of 3 adolescent children. She said all of this in a matter-of-fact tone and I wondered if she was noticing my eyebrows creeping higher and higher on my brow as she told her story.
Why do we choose to share this story on Doctor’s Day? In our experience as we’ve worked with physician providers and leaders, this superhero mindset is common. Our nation has expected it and you have molded yourself into this “it’s my job and what must be done” identity.
On behalf of SixSEED Partners, we’d like to support your “reaction” of “no more.” We’d like to offer you this “GIFT”:
+ Grace to appreciate your humanity and courage while offering yourself compassion and forgiveness as you so generously offer others.
+ Integrity to continue to advocate for patients, families, your colleagues, and yourself.
+ Faith to realize there is much out of your control and there is a larger purpose.
+ Time to take care of YOU – we need you for the long haul!
Happy National Doctor’s Day! SixSEED Partners honors and appreciates physicians around the country for the work they do and their commitment to providing quality care to their patients and community. We thank you for caring for us and our loved ones!
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