Caregivers on the front lines, regardless of their industry or role, face the unique challenge of managing their own fears, anxieties, and trauma while maintaining an unyielding facade of strength and resilience. In Part 5 of Service Without Sacrifice, Dr. Yvonne Ator and I reveal the hidden impact this has on caregivers. As the founder of Thriving Physicians and Thriving Idealists, Dr. Ator has felt and seen the toll this takes on caregivers. Drawing from her personal experiences with compassion fatigue and burnout in the medical sector, she has become an advocate for physician wellness, courageous service, and creating wholehearted cultures in the workplace.
Together, we explore Part 5 of my new book "Tell Me My Story - Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self," which focuses on the theme of “sharing.” In our conversation, we tap into the power of sharing our stories to foster empathy, connection, and healing. We discuss the culture of shame and lack of psychological safety within mission-driven organizations, the importance of self-compassion, and the need to break through the isolation that those working in service of others often face. Humanitarians don’t need superhuman strength. They need healing and connection through sharing. Part 5 highlights include:
"Sharing is the culmination of the story healing cycle... It helps us experience a sense of common humanity and reminds us that we're not alone in our suffering." Dimple, from “Tell Me My Story: Challenging the Narrative of Service Before Self”
The pressure to uphold a facade of unyielding strength and resilience during times of crisis can be overwhelming. And yet, there seems to be an unspoken expectation that this is how we're supposed to behave in the name of service.
Cultures within mission-driven organizations often perpetuate shame and a lack of safety, hindering individuals from acknowledging their own hardships. "These cultures have often looked the other way as we hide parts of ourselves behind masks of perfectionism and silently engage in a game of whose trauma is worse." - Dimple
Burnout and compassion fatigue are all too common in humanitarian organizations, and they often remain hidden behind a superhuman mask. "The vulnerability we experience through sharing empowers us to write a better narrative, not only for ourselves but for those we serve and lead." - Dimple
Growing up as third culture kids and witnessing disparities in healthcare and social conditions shaped the decision to enter the medical profession. "Seeing people dying from preventable diseases just blew my mind... I wanted to change the world and make a positive impact." - Yvonne
The corporatization of healthcare has led to a clash of values, causing moral injury among medical professionals. "You have a set of values that are driving medicine that are very different from the set of values that brought people into the profession." - Yvonne
Storytelling and sharing experiences can help healthcare professionals realize they are not alone in their moral injury and burnout. "Sharing those stories is helping people realize that they're not the only ones... the same thing is happening here, and it's happening there." - Yvonne
Resources:
Thinking About Quitting Medicine co-authored by Dr. Ator
Sparked by Jonathan Fields, featuring Dr. Ator’s story
I Quit by Kunur Bihal, featuring Dr. Ator’s story
Dr. Yvonne Ator on LinkedIn | Thriving Physicians Website | Facebook Group
Dimple Dhabalia on the web | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Threads | Substack
Pre-order a copy of Tell Me My Story today!
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If you would like to support the launch of Tell Me My Story, you can learn more at rootsintheclouds.com/launchteam.
Part 5 | Sharing - Featuring Dr. Yvonne Ator