The Hidden Cost of Tying Your Identity to Your Career

Dr. Martin Mendelson and Dr. Kyle Stanley discuss the importance of separating one's identity from one's profession, particularly in dentistry. They shared their personal experiences of struggling with this concept and how it has impacted their self-worth and mental health. They emphasized the need for a mindset shift to view their profession as a journey rather than a destination and to focus on the process rather than the outcome. They also highlighted the importance of practicing skills like boundary setting and changing one's mindset to achieve a better sense of identity and self-worth. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the concept of hedonic adaptation and the need to focus on the journey of practice life rather than just the end goal.