Do you believe in your profession? In the grand scheme of things, do you think it has real value? More importantly, are you confident that you, personally, bring value to your profession and your patients? Do you really love what you do?
These are scary questions, but its important to ask them every now and then because if you cant be passionate about what you doif you cant approach your day with genuine enthusiasmyoure doing yourself and everyone around you a great disservice.
Perhaps this is why the average person makes more than three career changes during his or her working life. I have to say, this statistic, reported by the U.S. Department of Labor, surprised me. I started to wonder why. What makes us abandon our professions? Is it because we cant answer yes to all the questions above? I hope not because, no matter what your profession is, eventuallywhether youre an optometrist, an editor, a salesman, a custodian or president of the United Statesyoure going to have difficulty answering yes to all these questions. There will be times when youll feel uncertain about the value of what you do or the skill with which you do it.
I believe that there are two primary reasons for this.
The first: You get into a groove. Your work becomes so simple, so everyday, that you forget that just because its easy for you doesnt mean anyone can do it. You have a unique skill set that does, indeed, have value. Dont forget that. Optometrys roots are strong; theyll hold up the profession and feed it when new fads fail.
The second reason that we tend to fall into professional ruts and question our skills is change. For optometrists, this is huge because the landscape of your profession is undergoing a drastic makeover. Everything has changed, beginning with the demographics. Fewer of your colleagues are likely to be middle-aged white guys; an increasing number are minorities and, soon, most will be female. Also, the educational system has changed. Graduates are equipped with far-reaching skills that will hold the profession to higher standards. And finally, the politics of the profession are changinga point I will not belabor.
This is enough to make anyone think long and hard about where theyre at and whether its where they want to be. Its a double-edge sword. If youre anything like me, then one minute you beat yourself up because you think a monkey could do your job, yet at the same time you cling to the old tried-and-true routine, perhaps because you dont know if youre skilled enough to try something new. You might be bored with the same-old same-old, but at least you know you do it well.
Mark Leary, chair of the psychology department at Wake Forest University, would say that if you are unhappy with your career, its probably not the profession that youre unhappy with. In a recent article, Dr. Leary mused about what he would say in 15 minutes or less if he had to give a graduation address.1
Heres what he came up with: My speech would tell students that their greatest challenges are those that they inadvertently create for themselves. You will face various disappointments, problems and even tragedies in life, I would say, many of which you will have little or no power to control. But the primary cause of your unhappiness will be you.
You cant resist change. It just happens to you. It sometimes feels like a huge weight and makes you question whether youre equipped to face the challenges of a changing world and a changing profession. But I propose that you embrace it. Let it work for you instead of against you. Let it rekindle your passion for optometry. And, if ever you feel overwhelmed, remember Dr. Learys empowering words: The primary cause of your unhappiness will be you.
1. Leary M. Get over yourself. Psychology Today 2004 July/August; 37(4):62-5.
