We all know happiness comes from within, right? Or so they tell us. We have all heard it over and over, but how many of you really believe that? At one point the idea frustrated me. I understood it, but I wasn’t sure I ever truly experienced it. I spent years wondering how I could change from within to become a happier person who was impermeable to the world around me. It didn’t seem realistic. Then I experienced it myself, and I started to really understand what that meant. Working through my career change shifted this from a concept to...
How often do you avoid making work changes because you don’t know what will happen? This occurs with many work changes, whether it’s deciding to hire new staff, revamping your practice model, or even quitting dentistry. I remember being an associate in an office with a hygienist who brought a lot of negativity with her. She was amazing in so many ways, but her undercurrent of negativity affected the energy of the entire office. It was hard for us to see it until she left on her own. I came to realize that the practice was holding on to her...
Welcome back to Part III of David’s story. I hope you enjoyed reading how he got started in Dentistry and then what came next. Today he shares some practical tips that he found valuable for creating change. David was born in the North East of England near the border of what he describes as “sunny Scotland.” He practiced dentistry for almost eleven years, and in 2014, he made the decision to step out of dentistry. He turned a part-time career, practicing as a counselor and trauma therapist, into a full-time vocation. He also moved to Melbourne, Australia, where he now...
Tell me there has been a time in your life when you desperately wanted change, but doing it wasn’t so easy. It actually happens to me quite often. As much as I love change, sometimes it’s hard for me to get it going. I was recently reminded of my habit to resist change, as my gym membership ran out this week. It’s not just any gym membership. I’ve been going to this gym for 16 years, and it’s time. I’ve wanted to make this change for months, actually years, but it wasn’t until recently that I became committed to taking...
Life loves to test us with different challenges, doesn’t it? It happens every day. Sometimes we roll with it and don’t even notice, and other times it really throws us for a loop. Recently I got caught up in one of life’s little tests. A few weeks ago, I was at a stop sign turning left. The driver behind me felt entitled to ram past me because he was turning right. There was not room, so he deliberately sideswiped the right rear of my car. Then, as he passed, he had the audacity to give me the stink-eye, as if...
I recently had very similar discussions with a current client and a prospective client. They both know they need to change something in their careers. One has a strong sense of what she’d like to do next, and the other just knows she doesn’t want to continue in her field anymore. What they share in common is a desire to change from within, as opposed to looking externally for the magic pill that will make all their challenges go away. They recognize that this is the key to making lasting and positive change. One expressed that she knew she could...
How do you know when it’s time to throw in the towel? As football season is back upon us, I’m going to talk about some old news. It was 8 months ago that we watched the Patriots pull out the ultimate comeback. It was so inspiring. They were so far behind, a win seemed impossible. At this point they could have easily given up. But they didn’t. And they won. It was a beautiful reminder that we should always keep fighting, no matter what. It’s true. In fact, it’s one of the most true things we know. Journeys can be...
There’s an interesting cultural phenomenon that happens in dentistry, and I wonder if it happens in other fields. There is an unspoken rule that we all have to love our jobs and have to constantly show the rest of the world how happy and successful we are. It’s a lot of pressure, especially when some of it feels like a lie. Many dentists spend their whole lives hiding the real struggles we experience. Sure, we can bitch and make jokes with our colleagues about some of our annoying challenges, but we can’t be real about just how much we may...
Woody Allen once said, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” I guess God was laughing at me last weekend because my big plan didn’t work out. I’m very lucky that I live in a place where I can hop in the car and arrive at some of the most beautiful spots on earth within an hour. Last weekend we had a plan to wake up early and drive to a beautiful hike in the Rocky Mountains. When we arrived at our destination, we quickly learned that the only remaining parking was a good 2...
Do you ever feel unhappy, bored, uninspired, and annoyed by work? Do you ever look down into your patient’s mouth during an exam and think, “Ugh, if I have to look at another tooth, I don’t know what I’ll do.” I used to have that exact thought at times. The more I felt stuck in my career, the louder that thought became in my head. It’s not fun at all. Feeling like you have no options is really stifling. You know what’s keeping us stuck? We won’t get out of our heads. For many years I went round and round. ...
