Three ways for physicians to work through fearful thoughts at the career change intersection

Fear is to be expected when you’re making a career change. It’s a normal response to change but can sometimes stop you in your tracks.

Here are 3 strategies to help you work through fearful thoughts:

3 strategies to work through the fear at the career change intersection

1. Trace back the fear.
2. Anticipate worst-case scenarios and solve for them.
3. Smile and look around you!

1. Trace back the fear

What’s under the fear?

Fearful thoughts are unpleasant and our tendency is to push them away or distract ourselves. This may help temporarily, but more often the thoughts recur and can keep us stuck.
In this strategy, you will look under the hood of the fear to understand it better. As you look underneath, it might dissolve, or reveal an action.
Here’s an example:
The fearful thought: “I’m afraid leaving medicine is a mistake.”

WHY?

“Because I don’t want to feel like a failure.”

WHY?

“Because I don’t want to disappoint myself and my family.”

WHY?

“Because I want my family to respect me and I want to be able to provide for them.”

In this case, the action could be to have an honest conversation with your loved ones about why you want to leave and the potential risks. Firm up their support and understanding. You could review your finances. This might give you renewed courage to take the next step.

If the above is not enough, try #2:

2. Anticipate worst case scenarios and solve for them.

To continue the example from #1 above:

What if I leave medicine and it’s a mistake?

What does a mistake look like? Get clear about the worst-case “what-if” scenarios whirling around in your mind.

Write them down. For example:

• What if I don’t like the work?
• What if I miss clinical medicine?
• What if I don’t perform well?

Then what will happen?

Write down all the catastrophic thoughts that come up: For example:

• I will quit and be out of a job.
• I will be on the street without money.
• I will lose my reputation.
• I won’t find another job.

[These may seem outrageous to the rational mind, but the fearful mind creates and believes some far-fetched scenarios]

How will I deal with them?

Write them down. For example:

• If I quit or miss patients, I will do clinical shifts or do Locum Tenens.
• If I am without work for 3 months, I will dip into my savings, get a loan, move back in with the parents, my partner will get a job, be a stay-at-home parent until I find another job.
• I will remind myself my reputation is not dependent on me having a job. A break in my work history is not the end of the world.
• I will remind myself about a time I overcame a challenge. I will figure things out, I always do.

This exercise might bring your attention to some things you want to have in place before your transition. Like, have at least 6 months in savings, bolster your support system, be clear on why you want to leave.

3. Smile and look around

Smile as you’re reading this. Smile with your whole face, make sure to show your teeth!

Can you smile and feel fear at the same time?

If you’re still feeling a sense of dread, look around. What’s one thing in your immediate environment you are thankful for?

Can you smile, feel gratitude and fear at the same time?

If yes, the fear might be the fear of excitement. It might be the energy you need to take the next step in your transition!

Which strategy will you try this week? Let me know what worked and what didn’t!