Helping our patients have hope and acceptance by having hope and acceptance ourselves

As Family Doctors, helping our patients cope with pain and suffering is a natural part of our work.  It’s inevitable.  

So how can we do that?

Besides trying to fix the problem, we can also help our patients find more hope and acceptance. 

As emotions are “contagious” and “transferable”, have hope and acceptance ourselves so that our patients can feel hope and acceptance. 

Sometimes, we can change how our patients feel by changing how we feel.