Lessons in Self-Rescue
How I structure my day:
Get up: Every morning we are reborn. Do we expect our mothers to come and make us breakfast? No. We harness the energy we find and use it to propel us into action. As Marcus Aurelius said: “At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed tell yourself. "I have to go to work-as a human being. What do I have to complain of? I’m going to do what I was born for-the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? to huddle under the blankets and stay warm?"
Fuel: In the morning I do not drink caffeinated coffee as it can disrupt motor performance in fine tasks such as spine surgery. Instead I drink decaffeinated coffee as well as Matcha (Japanese green tea in the form of a fine ground powder). Matcha has many health benefits but noticeably provides energy from caffeine without impairing motor performance.
Dress: In everything you do as a physician your appearance matters. Take the time to show respect to your patients by doing so, as well as to yourself.
Visualize: The mind is a powerful simulator, so use it. Practice what you will do this day before you actually do it. Your precision and technique will improve when you actually perform the real task. I do this on my drive to work, but find a quite time in the Am for this practice. Purge negative thoughts at this time.
Systems check: Review your work. This is similar to visualization, but here you double check all of your processes to make sure that you have all the necessary tools and materials to get the job done.
Into the fire: We never expect each day to be the same. everyday carries challenges, and that is not unique, that is expected. So we enter into the fray with that mentality. We understand that each day will present different problems, this does not frustrate us, but makes us feel alive.
Cool down: When the majority of the work is done, we take a moment to pay homage to the muse (or whatever deity) and allow the stress to leave our bodies. Just as we produced the work, we let go of it, as it is now in the universe. We cannot worry anymore about but, but give thanks it all went well.
Clear your mind: We eliminate the previous tasks from our minds and allow mental space for a new set of tasks. We do not carry forth the old tasks into the new tasks, but rather start fresh. Even if we are tired, we realize that the work must have integrity and that drives our focus.
Strength: Strength is not something that can be bestowed, but rather must be generated from within. No one can tell you you are strong. it must be something that you tell yourself. I make this into a practice with exercise. I can feel the strength come forth from my body and I prove this to myself every day.
Review: At the end of the day we look back and try to find things we can improve. Not to self criticize, but to grow. These elements enter our dreams and become our new foundation for tomorrow.
Thank you.