During the session, my partner leading the discussion asked, “What is your purpose?” One of the physician owners confidently replied, “To replace hips and knees.” The facilitator then asked everyone in the room, “How many of you see this as your main purpose?” Two more people raised their hands, both of whom were also physician owners of the practice.
We had been invited to work with a local orthopedic practice because they noticed a sudden drop in referrals, along with decreased satisfaction from both patients and referring providers. This practice had been around for decades, with skilled physicians who were well-respected in the local medical community and had a thriving business. However, over the past five years, something had changed. We were asked to evaluate their practice and offer insights on how to reverse this downward trend. On paper, everything seemed fine. They had talented physicians, state-of-the-art equipment, and adequate staffing. So, it was not clear why there was a sudden decline in satisfaction.
The facilitator asked, “If your purpose isn’t just to replace hips and knees, what is it?” A nurse manager, who had been with the practice longer than the current physician owners, raised her hand and quietly said, “It’s to provide excellent service to every patient who comes through our door.” The two physician owners who had spoken earlier looked frustrated, and one muttered, “Replacing hips and knees is what keeps the lights on.”
In my experience as a coach, working with other physicians, I have seen many make the same mistake. They confuse productivity with purpose, thinking that performing procedures like replacing hips and knees is their purpose and passion. The two physicians who said their purpose was joint replacement were indeed very skilled and passionate about it, offering top-notch service. However, replacing hips and knees was not all their practice did. They had lost sight of the small details necessary to keep patients and referring providers happy and to maintain a successful business.
It does not have to be that way. I share this moment with you because if you have felt an undercurrent of disillusionment, you are not alone. Every physician I work with has had that moment—if not several. But a life-changing shift can happen when you refocus on what brings you joy. Here is a three-part system I have helped physicians adopt to bring back that spark: identifying your purpose, taking actionable steps to succeed, and pursuing your passions without letting your professional identity hijack your life.
Identifying purpose
Have you ever stopped to ask yourself why you do what you do? Not just “to help people” or “to provide for my family,” but the deeper reason that stirs your soul. Maybe you are committed to reducing health disparities in underserved communities, or maybe you want to be a role model for your children. Taking the time to explore these often hidden, core drivers of your actions can be transformative.
Research from the field of positive psychology reveals that individuals who identify a clear sense of purpose are more resilient to burnout. Your purpose acts like a lighthouse—it guides you when the waters of a busy hospital or clinic start feeling choppy. If you are unsure what motivates you at your core, start with these questions:
- What do you value? What are the personal principles and ethics you refuse to compromise on?
- What brings you joy? Which moments in your day make you feel truly alive?
- What is your personal vision? If you imagine yourself five years from now, what change do you hope to see in yourself or the world around you?
Answering these questions might feel overwhelming (or pointless to the skeptic reading this). The key is allowing yourself the mental space to reflect honestly—maybe on your commute to work or during a quiet moment before bed. It is a small but significant step that can help you reconnect with the reasons you chose this field in the first place.
Taking action
Once you have identified why you get out of bed each morning (especially on those exhausting days), it is time to turn that clarity into motion. The biggest hurdle many physicians face is simple: We are busy. Between patient charts, administrative tasks, and personal obligations, “time” often feels like a luxury.
That is where systems, strategies, and skills come in. According to productivity experts, developing clear habits and frameworks can increase your odds of long-term success by up to 200 percent. Here are a few you can start adopting today:
- Time-blocking: Schedule your day in defined segments—one for administrative work, one for patient rounds, one for family time, and so on. This approach helps you maintain focus and sets clear boundaries, so you are not blending tasks or carrying stress from one realm into another.
- Delegate or automate: Whether you are still personally answering non-urgent patient calls or keeping track of all the household chores yourself, look for tasks that can be outsourced or automated. Even small delegations—like hiring someone to handle yard work—can free you to focus more on what only you can do.
- Strengths-based approach: Lean into what you are good at. If you excel at patient communication but dread filling out charts, talk to your practice manager or explore technology solutions that lighten your load. Research in organizational psychology consistently shows that individuals perform best and remain more engaged when they use their strengths for the majority of their work time.
Pursuing passion
While the first two steps ensure you are aligned with your purpose and have a system to stay productive, the third element—passion—often gets lost in the shuffle. We, as physicians, focus so much on what we “have to do” that we forget what we “love to do.”
Here is where the 80/20 rule (often credited to the economist Vilfredo Pareto) can save you from falling into perpetual burnout. The principle states that about 80 percent of your results often come from 20 percent of your efforts. Flip this idea: Devote 20 percent of your time to the activities that bring you the most joy.
- Physically schedule it: Write your passion time into your calendar, the same way you would schedule a meeting with a patient.
- Stack passions with obligations: If you want more exercise but never find time for a workout, set a family biking date.
- Be guilt-free: Taking care of your mental and emotional health is real work—it makes you a better physician, parent, and partner.
Research shows that hobbies and personal interests can help reduce stress and increase job satisfaction—two major factors in preventing the strain that causes many to leave health care prematurely.
Putting it all together
At the end of our group coaching session, we recommended expanding the practice’s purpose to focus on providing excellent care to every patient from arrival to departure. This involved ensuring there were enough staff to schedule appointments easily, assist patients, and handle administrative tasks efficiently. The physician owners were encouraged to focus on their passion for orthopedic surgery while allowing practice managers to handle operations. A few months later, a charge nurse informed us that patient satisfaction and provider feedback had returned to previous levels. The lesson? Mixing up productivity with purpose and passion is a common mistake among physicians—sometimes, an outside perspective is all it takes to see the difference.
Finding joy as a physician is an ongoing process of revisiting your purpose, refining your systems, and honoring your passions. Think of it like rounding on yourself daily and asking, “Am I living the life I truly want to live?””
Ben Reinking is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist, medical educator, and certified physician development coach, as well as the owner of The Developing Doctor. He can also be reached on Instagram.
He’s not just any coach—he’s a practicing physician who truly understands the realities of modern medicine. He knows firsthand the internal battles you’re facing, from short-staffing and limited resources to production metrics, constant billing pressures, and the ways your altruism can be taken advantage of. Ben is here to help you reignite the passion that first led you to medicine and provide you with the strategies needed to regain control.
