(My newest book, The Doctors Guide to Finding Joy in Your Work will be coming out on March 11th. Mark that date on your calendar and be one of the first to buy the book on Amazon. If you know others who need more joy in their lives, get an additional copy to give them as well. After reading the book, please leave a review on Amazon.)
What do we do when we recognize something we don’t like in our jobs, but we feel there is nothing that can be done to improve the situation? We usually continue doing everything we did before without even considering that an alternative might exist.
How can we improve our lives if we are not willing to change how we live them? Here is an example from a friend of mine who had an Aha Moment and ran with it. This is a slimmed down version of his story from Chapter ten of The Doctors Guide to Finding Joy in Your Work.
It’s been nearly 24 years since I opened my practice and settled into the way I like to do things. Or so I thought.
Even though my practice had reached its steady state, there were things I didn’t like. Mostly it was a certain type of patient whom I didn’t feel good about treating. My suggestions to these patients were often met with pushback, yet I really wanted to help them. These patients fell into three categories: those who wouldn’t take or use my advice, those who didn’t seem to get better under my care, and those who demanded care they thought they should have even though I disagreed.
Because treating patients is how I make my living, I felt compelled to treat everyone who came through my door, never turning anyone away, even if seeing their name on the schedule made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Some days were so full of these difficult patients that I dreaded going to work.
Occasionally one of these patients would decide to leave my practice on their own and I felt great relief when they left. Unfortunately, I didn’t clue into the connection between the end of our doctor-patient relationship and me being happier because of it.
Year after year, I continued taking everyone who wanted my help, including these difficult patients. I was afraid that if I didn’t treat everyone, my income would be significantly reduced. So I pressed on, never turning down a new patient or sending an existing patient away. Not only was I stuck with them, but they were stuck with me.
Then one day I experienced a turning point in my life—my Aha Moment. I was involved in a freak accident that injured my back, requiring that I undergo spine surgery.
During my recovery, I was unable to work for a couple of months. Consequently, I spent a lot of time floating in my pool, staring at the clouds. One day as I enjoyed the cloud formations, it hit me that I wasn’t totally happy with my practice. There were patients I saw whom I didn’t enjoy working with, yet I continued seeing them.
It never dawned on me that I had the power to change this situation, which would in turn create a more joyful workplace. Life is too short to keep doing things I don’t like to do. Why was I struggling to help people who didn’t really want my help? For the first time, I thought it would be possible to make changes to my practice and create a happier place to work.
With so much time on my hands, I began thinking about all the aspects of my practice I could change that might make my life more joyful. One of the biggest drains on me were the few patients I mentioned earlier. Maybe a good place to start would be to find the courage to let those patients go. As I contemplated this, I felt amazing, even though nothing had changed yet, as I was still floating in the pool. Just the thought of making changes excited me.
Thinking about my financial situation first, I wondered if dismissing several patients from my practice would negatively affect my financial situation. Is it even right to let these patients go? I decided it was worth the risk to find out how eliminating these difficult patients would pan out.
I made the decision that when I returned to work, I would make some major changes. The first thing was to dismiss the patients who were sucking the joy out of my practice. It turned out that 90 percent of those patients wanted to move on as well, but didn’t know how to do it without hurting my feelings.
After completing this first step, I felt a tremendous weight lift from my shoulders. I couldn’t believe the difference this one change in my practice made in my life. After that, I came to work with a spring in my step and really enjoyed my job again.
The difference in my demeanor was noticed by everyone around me. Not only was I more joyful, but it was contagious. My patients and staff became more joyful also. The office became my happy place. My lovely wife also noticed the change and was pleasantly surprised by the new me.
My worries about the economic effect were for naught, and I didn’t notice an income change at all. The vacated slots in my schedule were filled with patients I enjoyed helping. I suspect the patients I sent away turned out happier as well.
After this first success, I began working on other things I could improve in my practice. Not just the big things that I hated, but also the little irritants I experienced that I had come to believe were just part of the job. Everything I could think of that I didn’t like, I sought a way to change.
I am now the happiest I have been since I started my practice. I come to work in a better state of mind and with a bounce in my step. I no longer dread going to work, and I love it. I even sleep better now. It’s hard to imagine that a few simple changes could make my life so much better.
It took time, but I have come to realize that having my accident, which forced me to slow down my busy life and contemplate where I was going, was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.
Please, learn from my experience and don’t wait for an accident before making changes that will make your life or practice more joyful. Life is too short to spend year after year doing things you don’t like. Take time to float in the pool, stare at the clouds, and really contemplate what you like and don’t like about your practice. Don’t wait until you burn out to make significant changes. Drop the things that are bringing you down before it’s too late. You will love the results. I can’t believe it took so long for me to figure this out.
If you have been thinking about making changes in your job, you have the power to transform your workplace into your happy place. There are always things that could be improved to make your work life more enjoyable, even if you don’t think your boss will go for it. Pick up a copy of The Doctors Guide to Finding Joy in Your Work on March 11th and get started on your journey of transformation. Life is too short. Now is the time to find your joy.
