Service is a fantastic way to boost happiness and contentment in life. It will not only lift the spirits of those you serve, but it will lift your own spirit as well. As you know, throughout our medical training and careers we often focus on one individual: ourselves. We do it for good reason. Without a centralized focus, we’d trip trying to make it through all the hoops. But with an inward focus it is easy to lose sight of the many good things that can be done all around us and we may lose the balance needed to be a happy person. I’d like to propose that if you’re at a point in your career where you feel down, overworked, and unhappy, you find some way to serve.
Over the last few months I’ve felt the drain of working too much. My focus has been on simply surviving the long days covering the inpatient service as a third-year family medicine resident. I’ve also felt overwhelmed with the adjustments we have all needed to make to cope with COVID and its widespread effect on our lives. I’m sure you’ve felt it, too. This last week I realized something that I hadn’t thought about for a long time. I remembered that during medical school I was stressed but I was happy because I had multiple opportunities to serve those around me. At first I served because I knew it would boost my application for residency, but I quickly fell in love with the way I felt while serving. I served through my religious group and was able to find ways to serve my neighbors as well as people in the community. Through these little acts of service, I lost sight of my own stresses and would help others lessen their own. These memories brought back the realization that even now with all the stress I feel, there are others experiencing even more difficult and stressful times.
In sports medicine, I think we have an advantage because there are countless simple ways to serve those around us. We can call up a local high school and cover a few of their events, or maybe there is a 5k our neighborhood is sponsoring. This last weekend I was asked to cover a Friday night football game and when I hopped in my car to go take care of the team, I felt happy, light, and excited. Though it was a sacrifice of my own time, I knew I would be providing a service to 35 young men and their families. I felt proud knowing that I was prepared to help them with most medical emergencies that may come their way. When that first player came to me with symptoms of a concussion, I quickly jumped into gear and we walked back to the locker room where I did a quick evaluation. I determined he ought not play for the rest of the game and his mother who had come back with us quickly began asking questions about the process of recovery. I spent the next few minutes educating her on the signs and symptoms of a concussion and any complications that may result. She was overwhelmed with gratitude for my time and the knowledge I shared that provided comfort to her in a very stressful time. As I walked back to the playing field I felt that happy feeling rush over me that only comes through service and felt gratitude to have been able to help.
As I head into work this morning, I reflect on the weekend and feel a boost of energy in my spirit that will carry me through the next few days. My focus is on those around me as I search for more opportunities to serve. A favorite song of mine asks ‘Have I done any good in the world today?’ and I would invite you to ask yourself the same thing because if you have done some good today then I’m sure your burdens are a little lighter and your spirit is a little higher.
What are some of the things you do to serve your community? Email [email protected] to start the conversation. Brent Lambson is a third-year resident at the Utah Valley Family Medicine Residency in Provo, UT.
