Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Bring the real You to your workplace

Randall S. Fong, MD
Physician
December 3, 2022
35 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

Life is short, so make yours extraordinary. Capitalize on what makes you, YOU, and be your own unapologetic self.

The Almighty designed us as unique but imperfect and flawed individuals, prone to sin and blundering error. But that’s the great part of being human; we’re expected to sin, blunder, and make mistakes. We’re made to err for the sake of learning and growth; otherwise, we’d wither into uninspiring nothingness. Keep this in mind each day — that life is a journey, a series of explorations into uncharted territory that opens doors to new adventures. This requires risk — the risk of utter embarrassment, the risk of losing something huge in the process, and the risk of failure.

Risk is not inherently bad. To flourish and learn, we must go out on a limb every now and then. Be daring if what you seek is worthy. What is worthiness? Any endeavor that improves you for the sake of someone else without disadvantaging another. Embrace the big picture — the common good. You’re a single but vital cell contributing to the entire organism of humanity.

Risk falling flat on your face and then getting back up. Life is all about trial and error, chances, and second chances. Venture out and lose sight of the shore; you’ll be amazed to discover what’s out there, sometimes right outside your door.

I love this quote: “Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”

That was Hellen Keller, struck blind and deaf at 19 months of age.

Bring the real you to your workplace. No matter where you work or how boring or uninspiring your occupation may seem, you can make it more pleasurable and more meaningful by bringing your unique self into the equation.

I do this myself or try. For instance, I run barefoot, outside, in public. At first, it was awkward and strange, stumbling about like a fool, enduring wise-ass remarks from strangers and drive-by teenagers. I got over the embarrassment, didn’t care what others thought, and kept at it. I do it for its childlike simplicity because it’s liberating and sometimes painful, but in a good way. “Pain is weakness leaving the body,” the Marines say. But each time I run, it empties my head, and I get to bask in the sublime beauty of the here and now. And despite a tough and sometimes brutal day as a physician, the stress and anxiety melt, and everything just feels right with the world. And this carries into the workplace.

I share this and other personal stories with patients to help them discover that same joy in their own way; a bit of unconventional therapy, so to speak, beyond the colder, scientific realm of hardcore medicine. I stay curious, keep a sense of humor, and risk being foolish. I blend in my passion for art and writing, displaying some of my art where I work. I write and illustrate the educational content used in-office and online on a patient-centered blog and practice website, often with an unorthodox, unusual, and sometimes weird bent. I also incorporate this same approach in teaching residents and medical students.

What I’m trying to say is: make your work your pleasure. It’s more humanizing and more satisfying for you, your coworkers, and the people you are entrusted to serve. Heck, it’s a lot more fun and can be a real blast sometimes, especially when another is engaged with you. It’s like escapism, but without needing to escape. It could very well be the remedy for burnout. It might be the link to the fountain of youth, not by dialing down your age or adding years to your life, but (paraphrasing Abe Lincoln) by increasing the life in your years. All of this stems from one’s personal experience, meant to share with others to enrich their lives and those living it.

Plan your life’s journey as a great adventure novel with a captivating plot and an awesome finish.

Life is short. Live it well and leave nothing in the tank. Get down in the dirt, run it out with all your heart and soul, and finish gloriously by sliding into home plate tattered and soiled, leaving nothing behind.

Randall S. Fong is an otolaryngologist and can be reached at his self-titled site, Randall S. Fong, as well as his blog.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Prev

Migrants need and deserve access to healthy lives in the U.S.

December 3, 2022 Kevin 0
…
Next

The unstoppable momentum of a medical "fact" with no source

December 3, 2022 Kevin 0
…

Tagged as: Hospital-Based Medicine, Primary Care

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Migrants need and deserve access to healthy lives in the U.S.
Next Post >
The unstoppable momentum of a medical "fact" with no source

More by Randall S. Fong, MD

  • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

    Randall S. Fong, MD
  • The myth of wealthy doctors: Why business education is vital for every physician

    Randall S. Fong, MD
  • Stop and smell the cadavers

    Randall S. Fong, MD

Related Posts

  • Why social media may be causing real emotional harm

    Edwin Leap, MD
  • How to deal with politics in the workplace

    Health eCareers
  • A real-life example of irrational health care spending

    Taylor J. Christensen, MD
  • Who are the real superheroes of medicine?

    Batoul Harissa
  • Taking off the training wheels and becoming a real doctor

    Nathaniel Fleming
  • Please stop giving awards specifically to women in the workplace

    Suzi Richards

More in Physician

  • Practicing medicine with conviction

    Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA
  • The power of memory in shaping human identity

    Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD
  • Physicians have no autonomy. Here’s how to change that.

    Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH
  • The erosion of patient care

    Laura de la Torre, MD
  • Navigating adulthood in the digital age

    Eleanor Menzin, MD
  • The power of business knowledge for medical professionals

    Curtis G. Graham, MD
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

      Frank Chen, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Epigenetics and our inheritance to future generations

      Vishruth Nagam | Conditions
    • Practicing medicine with conviction

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • The power of memory in shaping human identity

      Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD | Physician
    • How Tratak yoga reshaped my USMLE Step 2 prep

      Dr. Nikita Mehdiratta | Education
    • Transforming primary care for physician well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

Leave a Comment

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • FDA Relents, Approves Novel Antidepressant After Many Rejections
  • OSHA Comes in for Both Praise and Harsh Criticism at House Hearing
  • New Insight Into Hyperglycemia Risk With PI3K Inhibitor for Breast Cancer
  • Oktoberfest Doctor: Not the Wurst Job You Could Have
  • Blue Shield of California Has Fix for MA Enrollees Worried About Co-Pays

Meeting Coverage

  • New Schizophrenia Treatments Are Coming: Don't Panic
  • Loneliness Needs to Be Treated Like Any Other Health Condition, Researcher Suggests
  • Stopping Medical Misinformation Requires Early Detection
  • AI Has an Image Problem in Healthcare, Expert Says
  • Want Better Health Outcomes? Check Out What Other Countries Do
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • The erosion of patient care

      Laura de la Torre, MD | Physician
    • I’m tired of being a distracted doctor

      Shiv Rao, MD | Tech
    • Inside the grueling life of a surgery intern

      Randall S. Fong, MD | Physician
    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Family support is pivotal in the treatment of schizophrenia

      Frank Chen, MD | Conditions
  • Past 6 Months

    • Medical gaslighting: a growing challenge in today’s medical landscape

      Tami Burdick | Conditions
    • I want to be a doctor who can provide care for women: What states must I rule out for my medical education?

      Nandini Erodula | Education
    • Balancing opioid medication in chronic pain

      L. Joseph Parker, MD | Conditions
    • Reigniting after burnout: 3 physician stories

      Kim Downey, PT | Physician
    • I’m a doctor, and I almost died during childbirth

      Bayo Curry-Winchell, MD | Physician
    • Mourning the silent epidemic: the physician suicide crisis and suggestions for change

      Amna Shabbir, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • Assertiveness in health care [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Epigenetics and our inheritance to future generations

      Vishruth Nagam | Conditions
    • Practicing medicine with conviction

      Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA | Physician
    • The power of memory in shaping human identity

      Emily F. Peters and Sandeep Jauhar, MD, PhD | Physician
    • How Tratak yoga reshaped my USMLE Step 2 prep

      Dr. Nikita Mehdiratta | Education
    • Transforming primary care for physician well-being [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Leave a Comment

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...