“Physician heal thyself,” says the aphorism. By extension, we could also say, “Physician know thyself”.
As I’ve preached in December, an examined life adds a ton of insights and opportunities for physician empowerment.
Many of us struggle with the idea of engaging with therapy or coaching, for reasons we’ve explored ad nauseum.
A useful first step is to explore some self-help personal development exercises for physicians. I use these techniques when coaching doctors to shift from surviving to thriving in their lives and careers (medical careers or not).
The Eulogy Exercise is my personal favorite because it gets to the self-examination point quickly, and may help with your New Year’s priorities.
Here are five self-help exercises, including the obituary/eulogy exercise, to help individuals gain clarity on their priorities:
“Physician heal thyself,” says the aphorism. By extension, we could also say, “Physician know thyself”... an examined life adds a ton of insights and opportunities for physician empowerment."
We have one life and but we also have many chances to do what’s important to us in that life.
For this exercise, imagine yourself at the end of your life, and write either your own obituary or a eulogy that captures the essence of how you would like to be remembered. Reflect on the values, achievements, and relationships that stand out.
Sum it up into one (maximum two) sentence (s) on your tombstone.
This exercise made famous by Steven Covey can provide insights into what truly matters to you and help clarify your priorities [1].
Imagine yourself at the end of your life, and write either your own obituary or a eulogy that captures the essence of how you would like to be remembered... Sum it up into one (maximum two) sentence (s) on your tombstone.
No, not a Disney song (although that one is beautiful!). Here we create a “Wheel of Life” by drawing a circle and dividing it into sections representing different aspects of your life (e.g., career, relationships, health, personal development).
We rate our satisfaction in each area on a scale from 1 (poor; hub) to 10 (good; rim). We are aiming for a smooth wheel Reflect on the imbalances and identify areas that require more attention.
This exercise helps us visually assess and prioritize different aspects of our life [2].
Physicians Anonymous Wheel of Life Exercise
In the example above, the physician is doing pretty well in their finances, exercise, and life purpose. They’re middle of the road with health care and play. Self esteem, work, stress mastery, and play are the lowest scored life domains.
Now that we know what’s strong and what’s wrong, we can make a plan to change that. A smooth wheel makes for a less bumpy ride, too.
List and explore your core values—those fundamental beliefs that guide your behavior and decisions.
Consider what principles are most important to you in various areas of life.
Rank these values in order of importance.
This process can help you understand what truly matters and guide you in aligning your priorities with your values [3].
We found a free personal values measuring tool online that may help.
If your current (work) day is full of unmanageable stress, impossible calls, unmeetable demands, and an overfull schedule, know that it does not have to be this way. There are literally thousands of physicians having a different kinda day.
If your current (work) day is full of unmanageable stress, impossible calls, unmeetable demands, and an overfull schedule, know that it does not have to be this way. There are literally thousands of physicians having a different kinda day.
Close your eyes and vividly imagine your ideal day from start to finish.
Consider where you are, who you are with, what activities you are engaged in, and how you feel.
Pay attention to the details that bring you joy and fulfillment.
This exercise can help you identify key elements that contribute to your happiness and guide your priorities [4].
Physicians Anonymous Vision Board
Create a vision board that represents your aspirations, goals, and priorities for the next three years.
Use images, words, and symbols that resonate with your desired future.
This visual representation can serve as a daily reminder of what you want to focus on, helping you align your actions with your priorities [5].
We hope that these give you some ideas and frameworks for examining your life and continuing on your personal development journey.
Remember that these exercises are tools for self-reflection, and it’s beneficial to revisit them periodically as your priorities and life circumstances evolve.
They can provide valuable insights that contribute to a more intentional and fulfilling life in our physician members.
If you need help with any of these tools, or planning your 2024 and beyond, you might want to reach out to a discrete, off-the record, highly accomplished Coach, approved by Physicians Anonymous.
Our coaches have walked the hospital halls and worn the scrubs. They know what it’s like and they can help you reach peak life satisfaction.
