Someone else said to "just handle your business". But I don't think that is actually Stoicism. Not exactly. Instead, what you describe sounds more real - implement coping mechanisms like your 30-minute walk. Take each day as it comes. Each patient as they come. Each challenge as it presents itself.
I might add to your routine that you must occasionally take a step back and appreciate yourself and appreciate what you've given your patients and co-workers.
And vis your co-workers, remind yourself that you are not alone, and needn't bear every single burden on your own.
As a fellow health care worker, *I* appreciate you and I'm grateful you are doing what you are doing.
Your message resonates deeply with me. It’s rare to encounter someone in the health professions who shares so many of my perspectives and experiences. As a clinical psychophysiologist and neurophysiologist, I also dedicate myself to teaching neuroscience-based coaching to support our patients’ recovery before, during, and after brain surgery.
This is the life I’ve chosen, and at 70, I find immense joy in continuing to work passionately every day. Thank you for sharing such an inspiring and insightful article.
Thanks for fantastic article. I feel the same way you do many mornings when I’m brushing my teeth or driving to work. I think to myself ‘why did I make this career change so late in life?’ ‘I can’t do this job.’ ‘I wish I hadn’t done this.’ ‘Am I going to get laid off?’ On and on. It’s exhausting. I can’t find a solution and some days I have just want to give up. I have asked God for help. Nothing yet. Thanks again
Man can I relate. From collecting ideas everywhere, to walking to and from work and the burden of acting like the rational one when your knee-jerk response is to snap. But what would be the point of studying these dispositions, history, science, and philosophy if we still revert to base instinct?
What I've learnt is it's hard at the moment, but on reflection, you become thankful to your past self for acting as it did, for making the obstacle the way.
The Stoic community offered me strength in all I do. The encouraging words and support. This has become a way of life, with my thought pattern, to always do my best, at each moment in time.
The respect I have for a Stoic way of life, is immense.
When I had a whipple surgery last year, it was 11 hours long. I asked my surgeon how he could be on top of it all for that long. He said he wasn’t the only one in there and it is a team effort. He gets to bed the night before early and has coffee ready in the morning.
Surgeons amaze me on why they keep coming into the hospital everyday. I wanted to ask my surgeon a few weeks ago why, how, and when… all the questions, but I thought my questions to personal. I also thought my questions would be an invasion on his (my perception) Stoicism.
He said I was a special case for them as I was on chemotherapy before the whipple surgery for CML. Thankfully, the bile duct/pancreatic cancer was not the resulting pathology. They are so interested in me, but I am more interested in them. They are both my why questions about my case, but why questions on how they get through each and everyday.
Thank you for your willingness to share. I am looking forward to reading future essays.
How your dedication, self-control and accessibility through writing to reach your readers humbles me. Thank you for your amazing efforts and loving drive to serve and heal. Why do we push those in the medical profession so hard: too many long hours forced to exhaustion. Wishing you ongoing strength and time to rest, dear Doctor.
I have a relative who spent his Vietnam years as a helicopter door gunner, then had a career working in surgery, now after retirement he goes to VFW for groups on PTSD.
Just hate to think what things are going to be like if there is going to be another pandemic. The medical field is stressed out enough as it is.
I know my ED nurse daughter has bagged enough bodies for several lifetimes. And families will come in and all go together. And there is no room. How can anyone live through that and not be changed?
Thank you for calling out the loneliness that comes from the hard struggle to live by principles and be better people that no one sees, or even appreciates. Rarely is that discussed.
Easier said than done. But will try. Doesn’t make it easier when a team leader gets in front of a room and makes comments like ‘we’ve let people go because they don’t perform.’ I’ve been in my new job four weeks and comments like that totally stress me out. I cannot stop thinking every of his comments every single hour of every single day.
Someone else said to "just handle your business". But I don't think that is actually Stoicism. Not exactly. Instead, what you describe sounds more real - implement coping mechanisms like your 30-minute walk. Take each day as it comes. Each patient as they come. Each challenge as it presents itself.
I might add to your routine that you must occasionally take a step back and appreciate yourself and appreciate what you've given your patients and co-workers.
And vis your co-workers, remind yourself that you are not alone, and needn't bear every single burden on your own.
As a fellow health care worker, *I* appreciate you and I'm grateful you are doing what you are doing.
Dear Doc,
Your message resonates deeply with me. It’s rare to encounter someone in the health professions who shares so many of my perspectives and experiences. As a clinical psychophysiologist and neurophysiologist, I also dedicate myself to teaching neuroscience-based coaching to support our patients’ recovery before, during, and after brain surgery.
This is the life I’ve chosen, and at 70, I find immense joy in continuing to work passionately every day. Thank you for sharing such an inspiring and insightful article.
Best regards,
Dr. Luis Gaviria
Thanks for telling us a day in Stoic Life’s.We are proud of u.Keep pushing.At the end u are the protagonist.🥳🌅🥹😝
Thanks for fantastic article. I feel the same way you do many mornings when I’m brushing my teeth or driving to work. I think to myself ‘why did I make this career change so late in life?’ ‘I can’t do this job.’ ‘I wish I hadn’t done this.’ ‘Am I going to get laid off?’ On and on. It’s exhausting. I can’t find a solution and some days I have just want to give up. I have asked God for help. Nothing yet. Thanks again
There’s something heroic in choosing discipline over comfort (not as triumph, but as stubborn fidelity to self).
But the question remains: Does choosing, again and again, eventually feel like peace or just a war with better lighting?
Life is war. But the voluntary allegiance to destiny tastes like freedom, clarity and tranquility, which gives me immense joy.
Thank you for this expression, so much truth in your words, for me it is the peace which rules my world. The drive encourages me.
Actually it’s not dark side.
It’s full of light 😇
Man can I relate. From collecting ideas everywhere, to walking to and from work and the burden of acting like the rational one when your knee-jerk response is to snap. But what would be the point of studying these dispositions, history, science, and philosophy if we still revert to base instinct?
What I've learnt is it's hard at the moment, but on reflection, you become thankful to your past self for acting as it did, for making the obstacle the way.
It is Arjuna's predicament in the Bhagawad Gita. And it is a modern problem. Krishna basically gives him (and us) a therapy session.
The Stoic community offered me strength in all I do. The encouraging words and support. This has become a way of life, with my thought pattern, to always do my best, at each moment in time.
The respect I have for a Stoic way of life, is immense.
When I had a whipple surgery last year, it was 11 hours long. I asked my surgeon how he could be on top of it all for that long. He said he wasn’t the only one in there and it is a team effort. He gets to bed the night before early and has coffee ready in the morning.
Surgeons amaze me on why they keep coming into the hospital everyday. I wanted to ask my surgeon a few weeks ago why, how, and when… all the questions, but I thought my questions to personal. I also thought my questions would be an invasion on his (my perception) Stoicism.
He said I was a special case for them as I was on chemotherapy before the whipple surgery for CML. Thankfully, the bile duct/pancreatic cancer was not the resulting pathology. They are so interested in me, but I am more interested in them. They are both my why questions about my case, but why questions on how they get through each and everyday.
Thank you for your willingness to share. I am looking forward to reading future essays.
How your dedication, self-control and accessibility through writing to reach your readers humbles me. Thank you for your amazing efforts and loving drive to serve and heal. Why do we push those in the medical profession so hard: too many long hours forced to exhaustion. Wishing you ongoing strength and time to rest, dear Doctor.
I have a relative who spent his Vietnam years as a helicopter door gunner, then had a career working in surgery, now after retirement he goes to VFW for groups on PTSD.
Just hate to think what things are going to be like if there is going to be another pandemic. The medical field is stressed out enough as it is.
I know my ED nurse daughter has bagged enough bodies for several lifetimes. And families will come in and all go together. And there is no room. How can anyone live through that and not be changed?
Thank you for calling out the loneliness that comes from the hard struggle to live by principles and be better people that no one sees, or even appreciates. Rarely is that discussed.
Be proud of the work you do. Managing your hours is significant, but without good health, as the Stoics taught, that should take priority.
Alright Debbie, I’ll do that. Thank you! <3
Thank you x
I enjoyed reading about your life as a doctor and a man. It is rare for someone to share their honest experiences in life. Thank you for this writing,
Easier said than done. But will try. Doesn’t make it easier when a team leader gets in front of a room and makes comments like ‘we’ve let people go because they don’t perform.’ I’ve been in my new job four weeks and comments like that totally stress me out. I cannot stop thinking every of his comments every single hour of every single day.