āIf you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.ā
I have always believed Dentistry is a Team Sport. As dentists, practice owners, partners, etc., we are only as strong as the members of our team, and we cannot do it all on our own.
As students, we can only be as successful as our instruction and education. Humans, as a species, are communal beings who rely on other members of their community, village, or family to help and support them throughout their lives.
The World of Competition & Comparison
Unfortunately, in the dental profession, many of us fall into a world of competition and comparison over compassion and collaboration
Join any dental Facebook group or visit any dental school and youāll see more envy than empathy.
Dental school is a highly competitive environment full of high-achieving, perfectionistic, and intense individuals.
Itās the age of social media and Google reviews, it is so easy to find yourself in a scarcity mindset. Dentists can be our own worst enemies.
Live a Life of Empathy, Transparency, & Vulnerability
Throughout my life, despite the factors encouraging negativity, anxiety, and scarcity, I have found that the happiest and most fulfilled people believe in abundance.
The people who energize and inspire me the most are those are share empathy, transparency, and vulnerability with those around them.
Living a life of abundance means that there is enough to go around.
In Dentistry, I truly believe we exist in abundance. There are plenty of patients for each of us, there is no shortage of carious lesions, malocclusion, or fractured teeth. Team members and dentists flourish in offices were fear and envy are not the driving factors.
However, this requires a real mindset shift from the default bath of competition, fear, and anxiety.
Surround Yourself with the Right People
I believe that we are only as happy, successful, and content as the people we surround ourselves with.
We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. We should want to leave a legacy for the next generation of dentists that is better than where we started.
If we can work together to move the profession forward, everyone benefits. It is imperative we get over the idea that āI suffered so they should to.ā
We have been blessed to be able to do what we do every single day and we should want to improve the profession for ALL of dentistry as a whole, not just a select or chosen few.
Key Takeaways
You attract more bees with honey and your mindset becomes your reality. You have the opportunity to live in abundance by showing those around you compassion and empathy and improve your own life by doing so.
Be a blessing to those around you and bring each other along for the ride.
Together We Rise.
Keep Reading: Self-Determined Future
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