1. Why Do We Do This Anyway? Some Practical Reflections on the Joy of the Passionate Pursuit of Meaningful Work 1,2 Kendall L. Stewart, MD, MBA, DLFAPA Ohio Association of Free Clinics October 14, 2014 1 Thank you for the exceptional work you do; I am honored to be invited back to work and serve with you. 2 Please let me know how well I served you on your evaluation forms.

2. Why is this important? 1 I remember exactly when I decided this. 2 I was a senior medical student at MCG and assisting with the removal of a lung. When I started to work with doctors right out of high school, I discovered a lot of them were miserable in their work. I wanted my work to be a source of unspeakable joy. So I began studying the differences between miserable and joyful physicians, and I’ve learned some things over the years. 1,2 I’ve also avoided becoming a miserable doctor. Here are some of the strategies that have helped me. Perhaps they might help you too. After listening to this presentation, you will be able to answer the following questions: – Why are some of our colleagues so miserable? – What are some of the consequences of being miserable? – What are some practical strategies to avoid being miserable? – Why should you employ these strategies and how can you?

3. Why are some of our colleagues so miserable? Sadly, they may be genetically predisposed. They may have failed to fix the bugs in their brain programming. They may have reinforced their flawed programming through neuronal kindling. They may have an illness. They may have concluded that outrage and misery are normal. They may have mistakenly concluded that others “make me feel this way.”

4. What are some of the unpleasant consequences of being miserable? It results in chronic emotional arousal with all of its unpleasant consequences. Chronic anger is not just unpleasant, it is deadly. Negative emotional arousal – Sours your outlook, – Compromises your judgment, – Distorts your perceptions, – Increases professional burnout, and – Triggers impulsive behavior. And the joyful people will all avoid thee.

5. What are some practical strategies to avoid being miserable?

6. So, why do we do this anyway? We aspire to lead joyful lives, and we understand that the passionate pursuit of meaningful work is the path to achieving that goal. We have concluded that feeling chronically outraged because our feelings of entitlement have been thwarted does not enrich our lives. We have realized that material things are as potentially addicting and as destructive to the soul as cocaine. We have recognized that living lives of service pays better emotional dividends than lives of leisure. We have made choices and we are at peace with the consequences of the choices we have made. 1 I treated a poor man with a serious chronic illness for many years. 2 Treating him was a huge challenge; he was very sensitive to my feelings. 3 But he brought a small gift to me each time he came.

7. Where can you learn more? Join the discussion about practical approaches to more effective leadership on the SOMC Leadership Blog.SOMC Leadership Blog Read Expectations for SOMC Leaders carefully.Expectations for SOMC Leaders Learn more about Southern Ohio Medical Center here.here Review and download this presentation and related presentations and white papers here.here Learn more about how to confront others effectively by reading A Portable Mentor for Organizational Leaders.A Portable Mentor for Organizational Leaders Read the classic, “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience.”Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience

8. Kendall L. Stewart, MD, MBA, DLFAPA VPMA and Chief Medical Officer Southern Ohio Medical Center Chairman & CEO The SOMC Medical Care Foundation, Inc. Clinical Professor of Psychiatry Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine 1805 27th Street Waller Building Suite B01 Portsmouth, Ohio 45662 740.356.8153 StewartK@somc.org KendallLStewartMD@yahoo.com www.somc.org www.KendallLStewartMD.com How can you contact me?

9.  Safety  Quality  Service  Relationships  Performance  Are there other questions?