Podcast Summary
The Hollow Pursuit of Achievements and Societal Expectations: Despite achieving societal milestones, feeling empty and disillusioned is common. Focus on real self-care and deeper fulfillment beyond expectations.
Our pursuit of achievements and societal expectations can lead us to a hollow and unhappy existence. Dr. Pooja Lakshman, a psychiatrist and author, shares her personal experience of checking off all the boxes in her 20s – graduating from Ivy League schools, becoming a doctor, getting married – only to find herself feeling empty and disillusioned. She felt betrayed by the medical profession, as she believed she was there to help people, but found herself unable to provide solutions to their deeper problems. In her desperation for happiness, she even joined a cult for two years in search of self-help. This experience led her to reevaluate her priorities and focus on real self-care, which she now advocates for through her writing and social media presence. Ultimately, the conversation highlights the importance of recognizing the need for deeper fulfillment beyond societal expectations and achievements.
The allure of external solutions for personal growth: External solutions for personal growth can be seductive but may mask underlying issues and potential harm. True growth comes from self-discovery and self-acceptance.
The pursuit of external solutions for personal growth and healing can lead to a seductive allure, often masking underlying issues and potential harm. Puja's story illustrates this concept as she left her medical residency program to join a commune focused on female orgasm and sexuality, only to find similar contradictions and hypocrisies. This transition was driven by her anger towards traditional medicine and a desire for a purer, spiritual solution. However, she eventually realized that the answer lies within oneself, not in external sources. The seduction comes from the need to demonize and then rescue oneself from past pain, but ultimately, true growth and healing come from self-discovery and self-acceptance. It's essential to be aware of the potential pitfalls of external solutions and the importance of introspection in the journey towards personal growth.
A doctor's discovery of a group's dark side: Despite involvement in a controversial group, a doctor learned valuable lessons about questioning authority and personal growth after leaving.
Despite being a doctor and publicly speaking on behalf of a controversial group for two years, the speaker was unaware of the group's dark underbelly until 2018. She felt a deep sense of failure and shame upon leaving the group and spent several years in therapy and psychoanalysis to process her experiences. Through this introspection, she came to understand that her identity was no longer defined by her involvement with the group and that she had gained valuable insight into the manipulative tactics of charismatic individuals. Her experiences serve as a reminder of the importance of questioning authority and the potential for personal growth even after experiencing significant adversity.
Misalignment between personal fulfillment and career advancement in healthcare: Burnout in healthcare is not just an individual issue, but a systemic one. Institutions need to address the root causes, rather than offering individual solutions.
The speaker's experience in medicine and academia taught her that personal fulfillment and career advancement don't always align. She realized that despite being offered leadership roles, she didn't want to climb the academic ladder. Instead, she chose to leave and pursue a private practice, social media, and writing. The speaker also emphasized that burnout in healthcare is often a systemic issue, as shown in a meta-analysis. Instead of focusing on individual solutions like yoga or resiliency training, she advocates for changing the systems that contribute to burnout. Her perspective is that burnout is not just an individual issue, but a form of social betrayal by institutions that have let healthcare professionals down.
Systemic issues in healthcare impact worker wellness: Healthcare workers' mental health struggles stem from systemic issues, including inadequate parental leave, fair pay, and humane working conditions. True wellness requires collective demand for change.
Individual wellness practices, such as mindfulness or meditation, are insufficient solutions to systemic issues in the healthcare industry, particularly inadequate parental leave, fair pay, and humane working conditions. The speaker emphasizes that the root cause of mental health struggles for healthcare workers lies in the broken system and advocates for collective demand for change. This involves internal work, such as setting boundaries, understanding personal values, and recognizing the importance of self-care and reclaiming personal power. Ultimately, true wellness for healthcare workers requires addressing the systemic issues that impact their well-being.
Recognize progress is made through small steps: Mentorship, networking, self-advocacy, and seeking support from colleagues are essential for career advancement. Progress may come through a series of small steps rather than one significant decision.
Advancing in your career, especially in fields like medicine, can be challenging due to various external factors and lack of support. Privilege plays a role, but it's essential to recognize that progress is made through a series of small steps rather than one significant decision. Mentorship and networking are crucial, and finding a community of like-minded individuals can help you feel less alone and more empowered. Small changes, like advocating for yourself and setting boundaries, can lead to significant improvements. When facing challenges, consider seeking support from colleagues and approaching problems as a group to increase your chances of success.
Taking control of your healthcare career: Effectively communicate with superiors, make small changes, build a network, and recognize the value of your unique contributions to take control of your healthcare career.
Taking control of your career in healthcare requires proactive problem-solving and managing up, even before making a drastic change like starting your own practice. This means communicating effectively with superiors, making small changes first, and building a network of like-minded individuals. It can be challenging for healthcare professionals to take this step due to societal perceptions of the profession as a noble calling, but it's essential to recognize the value of our unique contributions and take back control of our careers. Building a supportive network and starting small can lead to significant changes over time. As one interviewee shared, starting a podcast or following industry leaders online can be the first steps towards discovering new opportunities and making a meaningful impact in the field.
Embrace unique strengths and passions: Recognize and embrace personal strengths and passions, challenge societal expectations, and avoid get-rich-quick schemes for genuine personal growth.
It's essential to recognize and embrace our unique strengths and passions instead of adhering rigidly to preconceived ideals or societal expectations. This can involve challenging the status quo and venturing out of established systems, even if it feels uncomfortable or unconventional. Moreover, it's crucial to be wary of schemes, such as MLMs, that promise quick fixes or easy solutions, as they often lack authenticity and can lead to more harm than good. Ultimately, the power to improve our lives lies within us, and we should focus on personal growth and development rather than relying on external factors or products.
Balancing Personal Happiness and Professional Success in Healthcare: Healthcare professionals must prioritize self-care and find balance between work and personal life to ensure long-term success and happiness.
While pursuing a career in healthcare can be rewarding, it's essential to remember that personal happiness and self-care are just as important as professional success. The healthcare system can be masochistic, leading some to believe that only by giving every ounce of themselves will they eventually reach fulfillment. However, this is not always the case, and many end up with significant debt. It's crucial to find balance and exert agency where possible. Many medical students and residents face interpersonal stressors and feel guilty for not being fully dedicated to their studies or work. But guilt can be a faulty moral compass, and it's essential to find meaning outside of work. This could be through hobbies or focusing on the intrinsic motivation for helping people. Remember, taking care of yourself is not a luxury but a necessity for long-term success and happiness in the healthcare field.
Prioritize personal growth and career aspirations: Focus on inner desires, seek guidance, and make difficult decisions for a unique, fulfilling journey
It's essential for providers to prioritize their personal growth and career aspirations, even if it means deviating from societal expectations or initial career goals. This may involve introspection, seeking guidance from mentors or therapists, and making difficult decisions. It's crucial to remember that everyone has an ideal path, but finding your unique journey requires filtering out external voices and focusing on your inner desires. While seeking help, such as therapy, can be a privilege, it can provide valuable insights and understanding of your choices. Ultimately, your self-care journey is a means to becoming the best version of yourself, even if the outcome doesn't align perfectly with others' expectations.
Recognize the power of intentional self-care choices: Healthcare professionals should prioritize self-care, set boundaries, and seek support to maintain balance and provide better care for patients.
Self-care is about making intentional decisions and taking back control of your time, even for health care professionals who are often overburdened and time-poor. Pooja Lapshan, a mental health professional, emphasizes the importance of recognizing that we all have choices and the power to prioritize our own well-being. Despite the constant demands of the healthcare system, she encourages everyone to make time for themselves and seek support from communities of like-minded individuals. Pooja also shared her personal experience of setting boundaries and protecting her own mental health by dedicating one day a week to herself, away from patient appointments. This simple yet powerful act allowed her to maintain a sense of balance and recharge, enabling her to provide better care for her patients in the long run. Overall, the conversation underscores the importance of prioritizing self-care and making deliberate choices to improve both personal and professional well-being.