The Victim Mentality

The Victim Mentality

Last week, in the real world, was doctor’s week. Or doctor’s day, I can’t seem to find anyone who can clarify. The point is to celebrate physician’s and their contribution to the healthcare system and society. My social streams, everyday, were filled with often contradictory messages. On the one side, there was a lot of well wishing and congratulatory exuberance. On the other, many physicians expressed discontent about the current situation of our working environment, burnout, and even indebtedness. The victim mentality was out in full force.

There is no doubt that becoming a physician and practicing is arduous. Heck, I didn’t pursue a half retirement because everything was peachy. Yet, I can’t also help but feel that there is a learned helplessness.

If we want things to change, we have to do something!

Global Change

If we want to throw off the victim mentality and empower ourselves, we have two different venues to effect change . Globally, we can work on improving the system. Locally, we can extirpate ourselves from a crappy situation. Either works, but we must focus on one or both. Moping around won’t solve any problems.

With healthcare, the path to global change is clear. We, as physicians, have to become politically active. Form lobbying groups. Run for public as well as national offices.

Physicians need to infiltrate hospital boards, get hired into the C-suite, and champion wage and work hours that make sense.

We have to become political animals.

Local Change

If changing the system is not our cup of tea, then we have to work on changing ourselves. This might mean quitting the corporate job and opening a physician owned practice. this might mean early retirement, financial independence, or even leaving medicine to pursue sales or tech.

The possibilities are endless. The point is that instead of embracing the victim mentality, we need to empower ourselves towards change. My career is a perfect example.

I left corporate medicine because I didn’t like being told by administrators what to do. After owning my own practice, I realized that governmental compliance and fee structures were making the modern medical business untenable. So I pivoted, and started a concierge/nursing home practice.

Building my business provided enough cash flow to invest in real estate, become financially independent, and eventually leave the stresses of my concierge practice to support myself with a part time hospice position. This new position provides me more than enough money, has no night or weekend call, and allows me to work from home for 75% of my hours.

Our Finances Are No Different

Our financial situations are no different. Even if not a doctor. If we are unhappy with our financial situations, we can cling to the victim mentality. Or we can empower ourselves.

The ingredients are no different. We can look globally to change. Become politically active and fight to fix the gender pay gap and racial wealth gap. Push for higher minimum wage, and less corporate greed and illegal practices.

Or we can concentrate on local change. Learn to budget, save, and invest. We can improve our work environment and strive for financial independence.

The choice is ours.

Final Thoughts

Undoubtedly, on some level, we are all victims. Thus the victim mentality makes complete sense. Yet, we are where we are, and there is no use in wishing things were better. Instead we have to make things better. Globally. Locally. Choose one or both.

Then do something about it.

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