Do you sometimes feel like life's hurdles are dragging you down? If so, you're not alone. Join me as I share my personal journey of navigating life's ups and downs as a doctor, and how a shift in mindset can transform challenges into opportunities for growth.

My phases when confronting difficulties

Phase 1: Ignoring difficulties and challenges

Growing up, I was fortunate to be well-protected and provided for by my family, which allowed me to live a worry-free childhood. The world outside of my family was a distant reality that barely touched me. My primary focus and responsibility during this time was to devote myself wholly to my studies. This was the period in my life where I worked tirelessly towards academic excellence, striving to achieve the highest grades possible. However, this phase of my life, characterised by its simplicity and fewer responsibilities, was fleeting and ended quicker than I would have liked.

Phase 2: Addressing challenges

This phase embarked on its journey when I came to the revelation that life, in its inherent nature, persistently presents a series of similar challenges, over and over again. This observation led me to the understanding that it's of paramount importance to learn and master the skills necessary to navigate these recurring obstacles effectively and efficiently.

The key to this is developing an understanding and appreciation of the fact that life’s challenges can serve as opportunities for personal growth and learning. Essentially, what we need to do is to make a conscious effort to strengthen our individual resilience. This resilience is akin to a muscle that needs consistent nurturing and strengthening, enabling us to bounce back from adversity stronger than we were before.

Phase 3: Preventing challenges

In my professional role as a doctor, I have come to deeply understand and appreciate the age-old adage that prevention is always better than cure. This fundamental belief has guided me in all aspects of my work, prompting me to take a proactive approach rather than a reactive one. Consequently, I have committed myself to devising robust strategies that are aimed at preemptively preventing potential challenges from arising which allows me to anticipate problems before they occur, enabling me to mitigate their impact effectively.

Furthermore, I also believe in the importance of having contingency plans in place. Therefore, I have also focused on establishing backup plans. These plans serve as a safety net, ensuring continuity and stability when things do not go according to plan or when unforeseen circumstances arise.

Phase 4: Changing my perception of challenges

This phase we're entering now is undeniably the most transformative one in our journey. Life, as we all know, is unpredictable and filled with countless surprises, both pleasant and otherwise. It is this fascinating unpredictability, this constant state of flux, that I want to delve into and focus on today. In understanding this, we can better equip ourselves to face whatever life throws our way and emerge stronger from each experience.

In the past few days, situations arose that required me to report to work unexpectedly. As a doctor, my obligations extend beyond the usual office hours. Emergencies can occur at any time, and there are instances when a colleague falls sick, and I am the one who must step in. Recently, I was asked to cover for a colleague who had fallen ill over the weekend. This happened after an already grueling week filled with extended hours due to a surge in workload.

Being summoned for a shift, especially one that lasts 13 hours through the night, is a daunting task. I still vividly recall my first such shift. My body was drained, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of misfortune. I found myself making minor mistakes, a byproduct of my preoccupation with feeling wronged. This ignited a downward spiral of negative emotions and less than optimal performance.

However, my most recent experience was very different. I took it in stride, humorously branding myself a "shit magnet." Despite the heavy cloak of fatigue, I persevered and fulfilled my duty over two 13-hour shifts. Interestingly, even though the shifts were as tiring and demanding as before, I did not succumb to the same wave of negative emotions.

It was at this moment that I realized the profound role mindset plays when facing life's difficulties. It's a harsh reality that we cannot always avoid or prepare for every challenge life throws at us. Therefore, learning to confront them with a different attitude is, from my perspective, the cornerstone of overcoming adversity.

Humour was my lifeline this time. Instead of sinking into self-pity, I chose to laugh at my predicament and get on with my responsibilities. Despite the grueling shifts that turned my sleep and meal cycles upside down, I managed to perform at my best. This humour-infused resilience ended the vicious cycle of negativity I had previously experienced.

This is not about turning a blind eye to reality with unfounded optimism or hoping that problems will miraculously resolve themselves. It's about acknowledging our innate ability to overcome challenges and accepting that it's impossible to prevent all problems. Once we do this, we can then adjust our mindset and attitude to embrace resilience and tenacity. This shift allows us to focus our energy on confronting the challenges head-on rather than getting entangled in a web of negative emotions.

I'm curious to know if you've ever consciously adjusted your mindset during challenging times and how it influenced your ability to navigate life's difficulties. Do send a DM to my Twitter (yes, yes, called X now) so we can talk more about it!