Will Smith on Greatness - Rx for the burdened physician?

Having a rough Monday?

Life getting you down from time to time?

Feeling the flicker of physician burnout?

Or perhaps you need validation for the passion and feelings that burn you up inside and make you feel so different from all the Eeyores around you.

Calling all unhappy physicians, surgeons, doctors...

Look no further than this collection of inspirational interview clips with Will Smith to brighten up your day and put some spine in your back. The video is just shy of a very worthy 10 minutes.

As I watched and listened, I was struck by three attributes he displays:

Passion

What are you passionate about? What would you be willing to die (or perhaps just take a strong stand) for)?

My response - I'm passionate about helping those around me (and myself) living one's boldest most regret-free life. That life may look quiet or ordinary to outsiders, but it is the one you have actively chosen and fully embraced as yours.

Conviction

What do you believe in?

I believe we are gifted with Choice. We can choose to change, we can choose to stay right where we are because it is working for us, we can choose our responses, our thoughts and our actions. And if we have gotten out of the habit of choosing, we can choose to relearn!

Belief in himself

What do you believe about yourself?

Self-confidence looks tricky. You can be opinionated, bombastic or self-centered and these traits can be confused with self-confidence. A big turn-off for most of us.

True self-confidence is much quieter.

Self-confidence can be calm or jovial. Outrageous or unspectacular. Gregarious or introverted.

This belief in self is rooted in self-awareness, being able to let go of the unproductive thinking that characterizes so much of our thinking, and an acceptance of both our magnificence and our limitations.

It's a special kind of knowingness. 

And I believe that if Will Smith can know this about himself, you can too.

Wake up, guys - What's your greatness all about? What are you ready to own and take charge of?

(Thanks @Mike Woo-Ming for making me aware of this video!)

Comments

[Rich]

Great post Philippa! I have always been a fan of Will Smith. His message here in this video is very powerful and will be useful in helping to motivate my patients to make healthy changes in their lives.