Good enough

As a physician and life coach, I read the article “To be good enough” by Drs Ratnapalan and Batty1 with great interest. Ironically, physicians, like other professionals, are often driven by a compulsion to be perfect, yet seldom slow down to examine the quality of their lives and practices. But busy people cannot afford not to take time to make intentional decisions about how they will bring their personal and professional lives in line with their ideals. Questions we doctors need to ask ourselves from time to time include the following: What does good enough mean to me? What do I value most, personally and professionally? What boundaries must I establish to protect what I value? In light of my talents and skills, in what way can I affect the lives of my patients? What is my vision of an ideal life or practice? How will I get there?

A trusted partner, such as an insightful friend or professional life coach, can help a person gain self-awareness by asking such questions, then help creatively apply the insights, maintain focus, and overcome resistance to change through objective feedback, encouragement, and accountability.

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