Are we all like monks now? I asked a monastic and his answer surprised me.

I’ve been feeling a great sense of isolation during this time. But also the sense that I’m missing a great opportunity.

We’ve suddenly been given this gift of slowness and time. And I’m trying to figure out how to make the most of this. Admittedly, I’ve been finding myself wasting a lot of time by finding new and varied distractions.

So out of curiosity I posed a question to those I would consider experts in isolated living. Monastics. These are people who have willingly decided to live their life in a monastic setting. Turns out you can send an email to a monastery and get back some incredible insights.

I’m reminded that for centuries people have chosen a monastic way of living. An opportunity, either temporary or permanent, to escape the regular busyness of life, look inwards and perhaps form a larger connection to a greater sense of spirit. Perhaps there is something these monastics can teach us about how to best make use of this quarantine time.

I’ve never lived in a monastery myself. And I’m not sure I really want to. But I have found great value in silent mediation retreats held in these settings. They have been incredibly insightful and life-changing experiences for me. So maybe there’s more I can learn from those who live prolonged periods of seclusion.

For more information please visit: https://www.mdhealthyself.com/are-we-all-like-monks-now-i-asked-a-monastic-and-his-answer-surprised-me/

Why You Need to Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

What’s keeping you from living the life you want?

When you look down deep is there something holding you back? Keeping you from taking risks and breaking through barriers? Is there a resistance? A feeling deep down inside that you can’t shake? What is it? Is it fear? Shame? Doubt? Guilt?

You’re not alone. I certainly have my share of “blockages.”

These are areas in my life where I often meet up with an anxiety around change. It comes up frequently in new personal relationships, and new social situations, for instance. There are times when I hold myself back from taking risks for fear of failure or embarrassment.

Yet in other areas in my life, I thrive in uncertainty.

I’m an ER doctor. My job entails being prepared for the unknown. Literally anything can come through the door and I’m expected to react skillfully in these situations.

And you know what? I’m able to manage the majority of these situations without feeling a great deal of stress or anxiety. Calm in the midst of chaos. No problem. I’ve got crazy some stories too…..believe me. Often times, people ask me how I’m able to remain so composed in the face of what appears to be a very stressful situation.

The answer is easy. 

It wasn’t always that way at work. I remember being early in my training and incredibly hesitant to step into acute care situations. I found them terrifying.

What if I make a mistake? Maybe I don’t know what I’m doing? Could I hurt someone?

However, through training and repeated exposure to that discomfort it dissolved and faded away. Slowly. And that’s the same experience of my colleagues.

For more information please visit: https://www.mdhealthyself.com/why-you-need-to-step-out-of-your-comfort-zone

The Importance of Celebrating Yourself

Happy new year everyone.

As we enter a new year and a new decade, I’ve been taking time to reflect on the last year and the last decade. It seems as if I’m at that point where I can think in decades now. When did that happen?

Perhaps, if you’re like me, you can be hard on yourself sometimes. At times, my mind tends to focus on the things I haven’t done, or want to still do. Do you do the same? Naturally, I tend to overlook and forget about all of the amazing things that have happened over the last year and last decade.

It’s a mistake.

Problematic, in fact. Focussing on the future instead of honouring your present is a quick road to misery. It’s often said that desire is the cause of suffering. In that same vain, constantly looking ahead without taking in your present keeps you from appreciating all you already have.

Ten years is a long time and a lot has happened. When I allow myself to think about it, it’s been a pretty amazing last decade.

I was a resident ten years ago at this time. I had no idea where I’d be today. Now I’m a long experienced staff with the grey hairs (and no hairs) to show for it. I’ve been all around the world and fulfilled a life dream to make international work a part of my life. Lived in some great cities (London, Calgary, Toronto) and worked in some amazing contexts (Yemen, South Sudan, Ethiopia). I’ve loved, I’ve laughed, I’ve lost, I’ve learned. I’ve grown up in so many ways.

But despite all of that my mind tends to focus ahead. On what I’m missing and what’s next.

I understand that and I’d like to consciously change it. I’m usually not a big fan of resolutions, but this year I did resolve a couple of things. Last year was very goal based and I set myself a whole bunch of personal and professional goals. Some I accomplished (I started a blog experiment!), and some I didn’t, and that’s okay. I certainly figured a few things out a lot along the way.

Upon reflection, I realized that I’ve been too outcome driven. It’s good to have goals, but I can be a bit too strive-y and can focus too much on what I want to achieve instead of the process.

For more information please visit: 
https://www.mdhealthyself.com/the-importance-of-celebrating-yourself

What You Can Learn from The Happiest Man in Bermuda

In 2012, I went to visit a friend who was doing a six-month locum on the island of Bermuda. Now, doing a locum on a tropical island during a Canadian winter is probably it’s own recipe for happiness. But to my surprise, I discovered something else in Bermuda that has inspired me ever since.

While asking my friend for things to see, one of the first suggestions was to try and see Johnny Barnes.

“Who?” I asked.

“You’ll understand when you see him…trust me”, I was told.

He was described to me as an elderly man who wakes up every morning to stand at a roundabout to wave at the passing cars to tell them “I love you” and to “have a great day”. And he’d been doing it every day for years!

It was this little, beautiful, joyful thing for all involved. I had to admit, it instantly elevated my mood and put a smile on my face. Years later, it’s still one of the most memorable things from my trip.

So I had to read a little bit more about Johnny. Apparently he spent six hours a day, for thirty years standing at this roundabout, for free, in order to brighten people’s day. And the act impacted him as well. He was known as “Mr. Happy Man”, and was considered one of the happiest people on the island.

The man was also beloved on the island of Bermuda. So much so, that a statue was erected in his honour.

Thinking about Johnny a little deeper. There’s a lot that Johnny was doing that each of us can implement to affect our own happiness. Without having to stand on a roundabout.

For more information please visit: https://www.mdhealthyself.com/lessons-from-the-happiest-man-in-bermuda