Self

The care of the self is the foremost task for the healer. We cannot take care of others if we ourselves are in trouble. We are stricken by the same things all others are. We get physically injured, we get chronic diseases, we get emotionally distraught, we get psychologically troubled. We get tired, we get depressed, we get stressed. These are normal things that happen to people, but unlike many others, doctors often do not take time off to nurture themselves. This is deeply ingrained in our training; missing work is considered a weakness, a burden on others. Only recently has physician well-being become a catch-phrase. But it is such an important thing. We want our doctors to be healthy, sound of mind, clear of judgment. In order to have that, we need to build a system that gives our physicians time, space, and support to care for the self.