We are trained to work hard and to do everything in our power to help our patients. But what happens when the work becomes too much? What happens when the weight of the responsibilities feels too heavy to bear?
I think of a surgeon I once had in my clinic struggling with deciding to leave medicine. He had always lived by the family motto that "the hardest path is the right one." But as I spoke with a therapist friend about this, she pointed out that for many physicians, not working as hard can be just as difficult.
Learning to let go of some responsibilities, to put our time and attention elsewhere, and to recognize that there are different ways of contributing can be a hard lesson. Especially when we have been trained to believe that working hard is the only way to make a difference.
But I think it's important for us to remind ourselves that there are different ways to contribute, and that taking a step back and finding a balance in our work can be just as important as working harder.
Elizabeth LaRusso is a psychiatrist.
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