Day 11

Remain genuine.

One difference I have noticed between those that are effective with individuals in the hospital and those that are not is simply genuineness. Are you being real, or are you performing at a bare minimum to keep the green paper stuffed securely in your pocket? Of course money is always a factor with work (you essentially work to receive money), but if you're faking your enthusiasm or concern, people will notice. And no enlightening or knowledge-driven words coming out of your mouth will prove meaningful.

I have mentioned before that workers who are the most genuine in the hospital also happen to be making lower wages. Is it a coincidence? Maybe. But it may say a thing or two about money and its power of corruption, or at least its power of enticing someone away from their original purpose.

The psychiatrist, in particular, amazes me. He has at least eight or nine years of intensive medical training and practice under his belt, but other than renewing prescriptions and upping doses, he has no involvement. His group sessions, which should be health-geared and proactive in nature, simply consist of showing old action movies and making as little eye-contact as needed. Surely this wasn't learned in med school, so what brought it about?

Let's contrast him with one of the social workers. He is making less than half of the amount he was making in his previous career, but carries a smile that cannot be erased. His sessions are focused, goal-oriented, and have led many out of the hospital. He knows everyone in his groups by name, and they are very excited to see him each day. This is where he wants to be and he is doing what he wants to do, and his demeanor shows it.

At the end of the day, being genuine is required, no matter what career or life path you venture down. And you can't be genuine if you dislike what you do. Is success defined by being genuinely involved in a career, or making a lot of money? That's your decision, but Viktor Frankl puts my outlook nicely: "I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge. Then you will live to see that in the long run-- in the long run, I say!-- success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think of it."

Are you the psychiatrist or the social worker?