Are You Absorbing the System’s Dysfunction?
Stop Absorbing the Chaos: How Doctors Can Reclaim Their Well-Being
Do you find yourself carrying the weight of a broken health care system?
Are you taking on the role of savior—overextending, fixing what isn’t yours to fix, and guiding others through a maze of inefficiencies?
If so, you’re not alone.
Thousands of physicians feel the same burden. They’re absorbing collective frustration, burning out not just from workload, but from the emotional toll of compensating for a system in crisis.
The Power of Choice in Medicine
Stop Absorbing the Chaos: As practicing physicians, we rarely have the space—or leverage—to change the system while still inside it. The work consumes us, and the challenges are vast.
But one thing we can control is how we show up each day.
We can ask:
- What is mine to fix?
- Where do I want to contribute?
- What is realistic for me to carry?
- How do I lead without self-sacrifice?
Each answer is valid. The key is to choose consciously, rather than react unconsciously.
From Judgment to Curiosity
The system’s pace and pressure drive many of us to rush, judge, and miscommunicate. But judgment erodes connection—both with patients and with ourselves.
Choosing curiosity creates room for empathy. It reminds us of our humanity and preserves it.
Celebrate What Works—Not Just What’s Broken
Yes, the system is deeply flawed.
Yes, we face delay, dysfunction, and disillusionment.
But alongside that are moments of genuine connection. Compassion. Healing. Laughter. Impact.
Recognizing what works isn’t denial—it’s resilience. Noticing small wins helps sustain our purpose and morale. It broadens the lens through which we see our work.
Redefining Responsibility in Medicine
Physicians are taught to hold everything. To advocate relentlessly. To fix problems, no matter how large.
But most systemic issues are beyond our individual control.
Over-responsibility and toxic independence create suffering.
True professionalism isn’t about holding it all—it’s about knowing what’s reasonable to carry.
Ask yourself daily:
What’s mine to carry—and what’s not?
Mindfulness Tools for Sustainable Practice
Mindfulness and coaching aren’t soft skills—they’re survival tools for modern medicine. They help physicians:
- Respond with clarity instead of reactivity
- Set boundaries that align with personal values
- Recentre on what we can control
- Let go of what isn’t ours to carry
These practices allow us to lead, heal, and live—without depletion.
Reimagining Our Role in Medicine
The future of medicine doesn’t require physicians to do more. It requires us to show up differently.
-With presence.
-With purpose.
-With discernment.
-We don’t have to carry everything.
-We don’t need to burn out to prove our commitment.
-We can honor both our calling and our well-being.
About the Author:
Jessie Mahoney, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician, certified coach, yoga and mindfulness teacher, and founder of Pause & Presence Coaching & Retreats. After nearly two decades at The Permanente Medical Group, she now helps physicians reimagine what sustainable well-being in medicine looks like. Connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.
Read More from StanfordPhysicianAdvocate.org:
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- The Financial Pressures Reshaping Physician Priorities
- Transforming Health Care Leadership: Prioritizing Care for Providers and Patients
- Hidden Crisis in Health Care: How Corporate Greed is Undermining Patient Care
- How Vaccine Hesitancy is Reviving Deadly Childhood Diseases