Do you ever wonder why you seem so upset at the end of the day after a challenging patient interaction when rationally you know there was a lot of good in your day? Research in positive psychology has shown that negative experiences hold more psychic weight for us. The metaphor used in Buddha’s Brain, by Rick Hanson,…

All of a sudden the holidays seem to be upon me, and us as a society.  Recently, a friend posted this photo from The ManKind Project.  The shifts on paper look easy, just cross out a word or letter and replace it with another. If your feeling burnout they may even appear foolish, however these…

Restorative niches are ways to enliven your day(s). They are opportunities for you to reconnect with your values and offer yourself self-care. Is your life feeling like it is routine and you’re in a rut? When you think about your patients are you sometimes thinking of them in categories like diagnosis or personalities rather than…

Are you so busy with taking care of patients, documentation and your family that you rarely have time to think about your needs?  It’s hard to believe but true, many physicians and nurses who know the importance of eating right, getting enough sleep and movement, and cultivating good relationships often don’t follow their own recommendations;…

Last week I focused on the question “What did I do well?” While using this as my gratitude prompt, I often felt compelled to write a To Do list by the end.  Though I enjoyed acknowledging what I did well, there was also a greater sense of responsibility.  When I respond to the 3 Ws, “What Went…

How was the 3 Ws challenge?  Did you notice any shifts in your attitude? The variation I’m offering for a gratitude practice is, “What did I do Well?”  This question is more specific and can be empowering. Asking this on a daily basis increases your awareness of what you are doing well, not perfectly. Throughout…