At this stage of my career, I’ve had the opportunity to conduct thousands of interviews for medical school, residency, fellowship, and faculty reviews.
I noticed a common theme from those experiences: every medical school applicant I meet is crystal clear about their reasons for wanting to be a doctor. They’re driven by a genuine desire to make a difference and tackle the challenges that lie ahead.
While that initial idealism may be tarnished, hope and optimism continue to prevail during residency and fellowship interviews.
Things shift quickly after training and the focus changes during mid-career faculty reviews. Those conversations revolve around simple existence and how to make it through the day. It seems like medical training reinforces the idea that we can only make an impact by working ourselves to the bone.
That mindset is not serving us well!!
In this week’s blog, I take a closer look at the importance of reconnecting with that sense of purpose and passion we had when we first started on this journey. Click the button below to read the full post.
"The two most important days in your life are the day you were born, and the day you find out why."
- Mark Twain
Coach's Corner
The Wheel of Life: Reconnecting with Your Purpose
As physicians, we excel at caring for others but frequently neglect the holistic care of ourselves. The Wheel of Life is one of my favorite ways to help coaching clients connect the dots of their lives and identify ways to move towards the life and career of their dreams
Step 1: Create Your Wheel
Download a wheel here or create your own by drawing a circle divided into three equal segments: Health, Relationships, and Work. Furtner subdivide into three subcategories:
- Health: Body (physical well-being), Mind (mental clarity), Soul (inner peace/spirituality).
- Relationships: Romance (partner/intimacy), Family (children/parents/siblings), Friends (social connections).
- Work: Mission (alignment with your “why”), Money (financial security), Growth (learning/advancement).
Step 2: Rate Your Alignment
For each section, ask yourself: "How aligned are my current actions with my desired future in this area?"
Rate each section from 1-10:
- 1 = Complete misalignment (center of wheel)
- 10 = Perfect alignment (outer edge of wheel)
For example, if you aspire to physical wellness but haven't exercised in months, your "Body" score might be low. If your clinical work perfectly expresses your sense of purpose, your "Mission" score might be high.
Physician-Specific Reflection Points:
- Body: Despite advising patients on health, are you making time for your own physical wellbeing?
- Mind: Are you intellectually stimulated or mentally exhausted by your work?
- Soul: Does your daily practice still connect to the values that drew you to medicine?
- Mission: When was the last time you felt that deep satisfaction of knowing why you became a physician?
Step 3: Connect the Dots
After rating each section, connect the dots to create a shape. The resulting figure visually represents your life balance—likely an irregular shape rather than a perfect circle.
Step 4: Identify Priority Areas for Improvement
Select ONE area within each major category (Health, Relationships, Work) that most needs improvement. These become your focus areas for the next 30-90 days.
Remember: The goal isn't scoring 10/10 in every area. Find areas where small shifts will bring the most joy and purpose.
Step 5: Create Aligned Action Steps
For each of your three priority areas, create one specific, measurable action that would bring greater alignment.
Examples:
- Body: Schedule three 30-minute walks each week, blocking them in your calendar like patient appointments
- Family: Establish a weekly device-free dinner with no discussion of medicine
- Mission: Dedicate one hour monthly to mentor a medical student or participate in community health education
Final Thoughts
Your medical career is a marathon, not a sprint. Regular self- assessment of can help ensure you're running the correct route will support stops along the way and a celebration at the finish line.
Until next weel,
Ben
https://thedevelopingdoctor.com
P.S- For for support filling out your Wheel of Life or setting goals for improvement? Here's how I can help:
- Book a FREE 45 minute coaching consult.
- Check out our onlince course: Mastery and Wellness: How to Thrive as a Physician. You'll walk away with a new skill set (and can claim catergory 2 CME for the time you spend working on the course!)
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