Here is an article from Landmark Education.

During my first day at The Landmark Forum, I realized something about “truth” that caused me to just about fall out of my chair. The world of “Don’t Know, and Don’t Know You Don’t Know” seriously brought into question all my ingrained “truths” about my assessment of myself as a rational, objective doctor who knew exactly how the world functioned. It immediately revealed to me how much more generous I could have been in listening to patient complaints: recognizing the true underlying concern instead of acting like I had the “only answer” and then dolling out advice with a limited shelf life. Why didn’t I have this understanding of humanity when I first started practicing?Even though I was retired, I wanted another opportunity to have new kinds of conversations with patients. I wanted my patients to have a different experience: one where they walked away with something equally as powerful as any prescription for sleep medication, an anti-depressant, or antibiotic. I felt compelled to do something, though I was kept up at night by thoughts of just how risky it would be to saddle up again, given all the responsibility it would entail.

But I took a chance. I reinvented myself as a physician. I opened a wellness practice where at the heart of all of my actions as a doctor is my commitment to contributing to the world through meaningful conversations about what really matters to my patients — conversations intended to rekindle their passion for life.

Take for instance the case of a former successful golf pro who, his well-being having deteriorated, had become dependent on tranquilizers and sleeping pills. He recalled the dream he once had of going on the tour and making his dad proud of him. His father had left a great legacy in golf and was recognized even by President Eisenhower to be a masterful teacher.

In our conversation, he realized that much of his anxiety was a function of the story had created about being “not good enough” and “unworthy” of continuing his father’s legacy. Then I asked him what was missing from his life that, if present, would re-awaken his understanding of who he was when he was winning in years past. He cried when he realized it was still possible to be proud of his father AND of his own unique contributions to the sport.

He could see that taking pride in being an ongoing contribution to the sport he loved was still a possibility. From this new view of life and himself, he was called into action. We devised a plan to slowly taper off his medications, and to reestablish a healthy lifestyle. He went on to quit the sales job that he hated, and returned to professional golf.

We had opened up a space for him in a safe setting to create a new future un-tethered to the past, which then guided my medical therapy in service of that future. Having this type of conversation with patients takes time, but when the opening is right, it is one of the most powerful conversations to be had in any office. I now have magical relationships with my patients. So much so, I have even created the possibility to caddy for this golfer at the Masters!

I would love to hear where others have reinvented or revitalized their professional lives. Where have you been inspired or reawakened by a conversation with a health professional, mentor, or friend? What are the new conversations you are having? I look forward to your comments.

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