Here’s what we got for y’all this week:
Book I am Reading: Grit by Angela Duckworth
Articles I am Pondering
Book Review:
Excerpt Discussions: Grit by Angela Duckworth
In sum, no matter the domain, the highly successful had a kind of ferocious determination that played out in two ways. First, these exemplars were unusually resilient and hardworking. Second, they knew in a very, very deep way what it was they wanted. They not only had determination, they had direction.
As doctors, it takes a certain level of grit (“a combination of passion and perseverance that makes high achievers special”) to get into medical school and graduate, match to and complete residency, and then matriculate to your final destination as an attending physician.
To maintain that level of focus, year in and year out, and to become a physician and maintain that level of competence to meet the medical standard, is nothing short of amazing, but it takes a level of passion and perseverance, not many understand or could fathom. It definitely takes a certain amount of grit.
In her book, Dr. Duckworth states that there are four psychological assets that we can nurture and cultivate if we want to increase our level of grit:
Interest + Practice + Purpose + Hope
Interest: If we want sustainable passion, we need to be intrinsically drawn to what we do. It needs to fire us up. We need to love it. We all have facets of our jobs that are not particularly awesome (EMRs, insurance filings, call-backs, long unpredictable hours, etc.), but we didn’t get this far to allow the powers-at-be to keep us from doing what we were called to do. As doctors - we can maintain our passion for our interest by allowing ourselves outlets to release, relax, and recharge (recover well) - so that we can show up, day in and day out, as the best version of ourselves for out patients and our families.
Practice. Dr. Duckworth points out that one key aspect of perseverance is the ability to discipline ourselves to show up every.single.day with an attitude of “Whatever it takes, I want to improve!’” Practice, Practice, Practice. We have all done it - in medical school; in residency; and in our daily medical lives. We Practice - and our patients do better; and WE are better (internally and externally) because that is what grit is - Its a ‘whatever it takes’ attitude.
Purpose. Purpose is all about seeing that our work matters in the world. It’s essential that we love what we do, but we’re not going to sustain our interest over the long run if it’s just about us. Yes, the ccorporatization of medicine and all that comes with it makes it very difficult for doctors to see that what we do matters. Treating patients like they are on an assembly line creates an environment that contradicts how we were taught in medical school. But, Purpose - is making the connection to something bigger than ourselves. She tells us that fully mature exemplars of grit invariably tell her: “My work is important—both to me and to others.” I know that I make a difference in the lives of my patients, whether admin wants to acknowledge that or not or whether their press gainey scores convey that or not because I hear it straight from the patients themselves, and that, keeps me energized and on purpose.
Hope. Hope defines every stage of grit. It’s the “rising-to-the-occasion” kind of perseverance in which we KNOW that we have the ability to achieve what we set out to do. “If we stay down, grit loses. If we get up, grit prevails.” I tell all of my kids that I coach - When you get knocked down - and you will get knocked down, you will throw interceptions, you will drop the ball, you will miss flags, you will run the wrong plays - you will make mistakes - You Get Back Up!
I challenge you to read this book and find where your level of grit is now. I guarantee you that this book will bring you back in time to a place where your GRIT level was untouchable and unfathomable by your high school or college colleagues because you made the decision to become physicians and did whatever it took to achieve that goal.
I challenge you to take a minute and reflect - level up your internal and external GRIT - and flip the script on burnout - proving to yourself and your patients - that what they are seeing - is the best most fulfilled version of yourself each and everyday - one guided by your interests, practice, purpose, and hope.
Grit depends on a different kind of hope. It rests on the expectation that our own efforts can improve our future. ‘I have a feeling tomorrow will be better’ is different from ‘I resolve to make tomorrow better.’ The hope that gritty people have has nothing to do with luck and everything to do with getting up again.”
Reel Docx FB Posts Coming in Hot
Check out other Reel Docx posts here in the FB group!!
Every week more and more doctors from all different specialties and disciplines are sharing their wins on the water. Join other Reel Docx - and share your wins with the group!!
Here is a list of guides and lodges by state that we were putting together on the Reel Docx FB Page
Reel Docx Pics:
Wild Med - Live | Learn | Explore
Check out New and Upcoming Trips at Wild Med Adventures
I have been on the Montana Fly Fishing trip 3 years in a row and I am headed to Brazil to catch peacock bass in Sept 2023. Check out this article here:
I have made more connections and had more fun on these trips than I have ever had at large national conference.
If you want to be more than a number at a large conference; if you want to create life-long relationships; if you enjoy the outdoors; if you need CME - then I encourage you to sign up for a trip.
Connect with Healthcare Professionals who share your same passions
Take your next Wild Med Adventures - Wild Med Adventure Calendar
Every week more and more doctors from all different specialties and disciplines are sharing their adventures. Join other doctors - and share your adventures with the group!!
FLIP THE SCRIPT ON BURNOUT
There are a lot of articles being published about physician burnout, moral injury, work-life balance, work engagement, and work-life integration.
The purpose of the Outdoor Rounds Newsletter is to keep that discussion going by focusing on actionable steps that we, as healthcare professionals, can take to maintain a healthy mind, body, and spirit that enables us to show up for our patients, families, and, most importantly, OURSELVES.
Articles:
The secret to success in medical school: self-awareness and courage
The key to fixing physician burnout is the workplace, not the worker
The key to work-life balance? Don't make your worth all about your work
Fossil Hunting for Sharks Teeth
This past weekend, my family and I took a short trip to the center of Florida to look for sharks teeth on the Peace River in Wachula, FL.
Check Out My Blog on Fossil Hunting Here
Tweets from:
SWAG Store:
Check out the SWAG - we have new shirts and designs for 2023.
If Anyone is interested in contributing to the Newsletter - please email me at reeldocx@gmail.com. I would love to feature you all in the newsletter and on the blog.
Thank you for reading Outdoor Rounds. Please share with your colleagues whom you think would enjoy reading this.