A junior resident reached out to me, feeling down about their skills and performance, just like I did when I was a junior. I found myself regurgitating the advice others had given me. If you're a junior resident and you're feeling low, this is for you. 1/9
#resiliency #mentorship

1. Every single resident feels like this, at least once, but probably many times. 2/9

2. One of the hardest parts about being a resident is continuing to believe in your strengths, while simultaneously hearing and accepting ongoing critiques and criticisms of yourself. 3/9

3. Feedback is hard to give, and some staff will always give glowing evals, and some will always give tough evals. Everyone gets both and it can be confusing when others' reception of you is so disparate. 4/9

4. Feedback is meant to be a professional audit, and is meant to help you should be taken as such. It is not be about your value as a person. Endeavour to not let it feel personal. 5/9

5. If you keep getting the same feedback, think hard about it and find what truth there is in it, and act on it. If it's a sporadic comment, think on it a little, but don't dwell. 6/9

6. Knowledge and skill come in fits and starts. There's a reason it's a five year program. There is a huge amount to learn and master, and will not learn it all.
7/9

7. Don't compare yourself to others, people can come off as spectacular because of confidence, but confidence alone does not equal competence. Learn from a support your peers. 8/9

8. The easiest way to feel better about yourself is to read. Pick a textbook, and read 30 minutes a day, front to back, on top of whatever else you're reading. Just work your way through it. 9/9