I’ll be Happy When…

(by Alan Stern, DDS )

I cannot tell you how many people I’ve spoken with in the dental PROFESSION who’ve started a sentence with the above phrase. Parenthetically, I think this phrase is ubiquitous throughout humanity these days, but for now let’s look inwardly at our uniqueness as members of the Dental Community. A lot of the expressed discontent I’ve heard relates to money. Student debt is one issue. Decreasing reimbursement and devaluation of what we ALL do from third party payers whose primary responsibility is not to those we serve but to its own solvency and profitability is another. Apathy and disconnection between owners, associates, and all members of the office COMMUNITY is yet another.  And of course, there’s the catch phrase of the moment, burnout.

There’s a lot of unhappiness and stress in Dentistry today. But there’s a lot of that in the world- why should we be any different?

I suggest that we all have the tools to, at least, mitigate some of the misery and, at best, find happiness in work and in life. No, I’m not suggesting that bliss should be the feeling we have after the kind of delightful weekend that my wife and I are winding down as we gear up for Monday. But I AM saying that miring in misery (and creating a mood of misery through social media and in the workplace) is needless, addressable, and fixable! We are healers, so let’s heal ourselves.

Happiness is a Choice

I will admit that I have fallen off the Gratitude Practice Wagon. But I ‘ll tell you that I have a ton to be grateful for, even when cash flow dips, when things I’m trying to get done or attain don’t materialize when I want them to, and when I have to finish this post and move on to at least 4 or 5 other things that need to get done before the clock hits 5 AM Monday. I’ll also admit that I will resume that practice this evening because ….

Happiness is also a discipline!

Viktor Frankl wrote “For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one’s personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one’s surrender to a person other than oneself.

And Avrom King wrote “I maintain that the opposite of selfish, so defined, is to serve self- but through service to others”

As I explore ways to increase my prosperity – and happiness is the critical component of prosperity- I look for causes to serve that are bigger than I am. But doesn’t the practice of dentistry allow us to do just that? What is more self-serving, by King’s definition, than taking care of people with diseases, discomforts, and disfigurements. What is more rewarding than guiding a person to higher levels of health? And can we not establish a culture that states , not only does everyone in the dental office play a crucial role in  what we do, but also that everyone be rewarded appropriately, both materially and spiritually?

What can we do?

A little tension may help us to make a few meaningful changes. Here we go…

  • It’s not about money… but it is about money
    • We need to be paid a fee that reimburses all of us adequately (not excessively and not out of proportion to the degree of skill and contribution each of us gives) and that is paid with gratitude. US means EVERY person in the office.
    • We need to understand that in order to earn more, the office has to take in more. If we want more, how can we happily bring in more, as we serve others in order to serve ourselves?
    • We also need to understand that, beyond a basic minimum, that our bank accounts have nothing to do with our happiness. It goes way deeper than that!
  • It’s always about purpose
    • Too often we are labeled as providers in an industry and not as well-trained good people looking to do well by doing good. We must put this cr@p to an end by acting as PRACTITIONERS of a PROFESSION united and dedicated to the greater good. It is only by our actions and our self-image that others will begin to see us in a better light and that we become empowered to demand that!
  • It’s about COMMUNITY
    • As healers and leaders, we need to unite around a mission. In an era where sports “heroes” abandon loyalty to their “teams” in pursuit of more money than they need to live 10 lives, we need to get grounded in the meaning of our work and both create and demand appropriate reward for it, materially and spiritually! Happiness in any workplace requires that.
  • And Finally…..
    • Life is good. Your work is a part of a good life you create for yourself and share with others. Take time to acknowledge the love, the good people, the good things in your life. They are there. Give your loved ones a hug. Call someone out of the blue and reconnect. Do something fun. And if you need a laugh, call me- I have lots of good(?) jokes for all occasions. Ask my team- they’ve heard them all at least 100 times in the office

Written by Alan Stern, DDS