I’m trying to practice requisite variety - looking for multiple responses to a given situation. After all, it’s what Darwin proclaimed would decide what species made it: the ones with many ways of adapting to the environment.  Unfortunately, sometimes I am stuck with a singular way of thinking about something. 

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David and his wife were scheduled to have dinner with us on Sunday, a date established months before. Alas, three days before our gathering, David sent us a picture of his face and an email that said he’d have to cancel. His face was covered in hives and the doctor was running tests. The doctor said it was a food allergy exasperated by stress. 

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I called my operations manager, Bonnie, the other day but she was out of the office. When she returned, her voice sounded happy and I could tell something good had happened. When I asked, her answer surprised me: “I was out delivering food for the police and first responders.” 

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Thirty years! That’s how long I’ve been going to my OB-GYN. She’s been through much with me and my family. Last week, at my annual checkup, she announced she wouldn't do the regular blood draw for various tests.  I looked at her blankly. “Huh? You always draw blood.” “I don’t have the capability now. I have something to tell you. I am closing my practice.”. While she stated it matter-of-factly, her eyes held a great sorrow. 

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Work/life balance has been and still is a hot topic. Many employers have finally come around to the idea that they can contribute to your life balance but you must take responsibility too. Balance is not an equal measure of work, family and life that remains static. 

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The current environment brings additional stress to our homes and offices. Physician burnout, for example, is rampant.  You probably know some of the symptoms. Here are but a few. Check them off and then consider some actions.

Some Burnout Symptoms: 

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Anyone in the audience when I have given my presentation, “Radical Resilience”, knows that I believe action is the antidote for anxiety. Sitting and stewing, muttering and watching storm clouds, or pacing back and forth does nothing. When we begin to take control over even the smallest part of our life, we begin to gain a sense of forward momentum. 

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In fact, according to Stuart Brown, M.D., the opposite of play is depression!  As founder on the National Institute for Play, Brown has spent his career conducting thousands of “play histories” of humans from all walks of life: from Nobel prize winners and CEOs to serial murderers.  (In the latter case, what the murderers had in common: they never played as children!)  

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There are many things you can do to manage stress and cope with change but there is one particular practice that helps many: yoga. Yoga has been practiced for at least five thousand years and it can help you manage a sea of troubles both emotional and physical.
 

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One summer, we spent nine days of backpacking in the Pioneer Basin region of the Southern California High Sierras. The 12,000 foot Mono Pass assured us that we were well tucked behind granite peaks and away from the ambient light of the LA Basin. 

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