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We have been practicing delayed gratification for years. With every new hoop we jump through, we think: "I am working hard now so that I can be happy later" This fearless attitude has gotten us through one of the most stressful training programs. However, now we notice that the happiness supposed to show up still has not. We might even feel less happy than when we started medical school. 

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Nevertheless, we continue this habit of thinking, "I will be happy when": my kids get into a good school, my chairman treats me fairly, my house is remodeled, and I get physically fit. We continue to chase happiness in the future. We have forgotten that happiness is not a reaction to outside circumstances but an understanding of how our minds work and how to work with it. ​

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Advances in neuroscience and ancient wisdom. 

The statistics for physician well-being are distressing. Doctors have the highest suicide rate of any profession. Our drug and alcohol abuse, anxiety, and depression scores tell the story of our discontent. 

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The good news is that while we were busy practicing medicine, there have been exciting advances in "contemplative neuroscience" that give us a deeper understanding of how our brains create our world. It is also validating through advanced imaging, particularly functional MRI, how we can change the structure and function of our brains and rewire our nervous systems for well-being. 

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This emerging approach to mental health is a refreshing change from what we learned in medical school, emphasizing DSM 5 classifications, pathologizing thought processes, and reliance on medication and analysis. 

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With this change in attitude towards mental health, promising techniques have emerged that allow us to live a more centered and happy life. In particular, the practices of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Inquiry-Based Stress Reduction (IBSR) have seen a recent prominence in the literature, demonstrating tangible benefits in varied populations. Exercise, yoga, breathwork, gratitude, nutrition, and nature therapy continue to demonstrate their effectiveness in clinical practice and research trials. These practices are of tremendous benefit to physicians and, by extension, to their patients, who benefit from their experience and calm presence. 

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My teaching experience

I have been instructing well-being practices for over 15 years, beginning with teaching meditation at Kirtland Air Force Base and helping airmen deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan work through combat stress. A speaker for Vistage International, The Executive Company (TEC), and an expert in the neuroscience of well-being, I give workshops throughout the US and Canada, helping physicians and entrepreneurs understand their minds.