Select Page

Empathy, Not Intellect

by Mar 16, 2017

It’s easy for us to get too comfortable with what we’re learning. It becomes second nature to intellectualize what the healthcare profession is. Don’t get me wrong, the intellectual aspects of our profession have their time and place. But, don’t let this way of thinking cloud the crucial human component of what we do. People place their trust, their health, and their lives in our hands. I think keeping that reality close and in focus every time we interact with a patient is so very important. I struggle with this myself. So often the intellectual route is the route with emotional security. This reflex is a strong one for me.

GregoryComing out of the military, I found it hard to emotionally invest in people. But, emotional availability is a two-way street. I found that I couldn’t shut down the incoming traffic without shutting down the outgoing, effectively isolating myself in my castle of rationality. It’s our emotional acuity and ability to truly empathize that make us uniquely human. I felt as though I had lost a part of me to some degree, that part that allowed me to truly connect.

So when you find yourself taking a step down that path of intellectualization, stop and ask yourself what it is you think you’re protecting yourself from. You’ll find that the only thing that you end up “protecting” yourself from is taking part in that breathtaking human tapestry of emotional connection.

Stop the retreat. Be here. Be now. Your patients will thank you.

Subscribe to Our Blog

Follow NUHS on Social Media

About the Author

Gregory Swets

Gregory Swets

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Posts

NUHS Clinic Reflections

NUHS Clinic Reflections

The start of 2024 marked the beginning of my lifelong journey into clinical practice. January was my first trimester in the clinic. As an 8th-trimester student, I navigated the initial anxieties of patient care, learning how to use the EHR system while striving for clinical efficiency.

read more
The Cerebellum & ADHD

The Cerebellum & ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has long been viewed through the lens of executive function deficits, with attention focused primarily on the prefrontal cortex, dopamine, and/or norepinephrine deficiencies.

read more

Defining the future of integrated health care.