Narcissus pseudonarcissus or wild daffodil (introduced species). San Bernardino National Forest, 2.13.23.
I have often heard disparaging comments regarding so-called “youthful idealism.” Youthful idealism, in the sense in which I am referring to it, suggests altruism paired with an open-eyed optimism that is most often held by the “uninitiated” or “naive.” Going through medical school I would hear snubs like “I used to think I could make a difference” or “I used to look forward to work once” or simply “I used to be like you and then I experienced the real world.” It can be easy to spot, whether in the wide smile of the first year medical student at her white coat ceremony or the bounding stride of a young person as he gets ready to board the plane for his first mission trip. Youthful idealism is beautiful. Yet there seems to be an undercurrent of belief that such an attitude is immature, uninformed and wildly unpractical. This phenomenon isn’t isolated to just medicine. Generally speaking, it is a common view that the altruistic and impassioned dreams of the young are nice in theory but simply do not hold up to the reality of this broken and disappointing world.
In a sense, the detractors of youthful idealism are right. “The real world” really can change bright-eyed idealists into pessimists and cynics. This has been demonstrated repeatedly in studies of medical students and medical residents. The clinical training process tends to reduce empathy in students and residents. To read a meta-analysis of this decline in empathy, click here. It is thought that students are especially vulnerable when they begin seeing patients for the first time and are particularly susceptible to the “hidden curriculum” or the harsh, unfeeling reality of the medical system. This in combination with elevated levels of depression, burnout and lower quality of life in medical trainees leads to a reduction in empathy. This is tragic. Medicine, be it nursing, mid-level healthcare or doctoring, takes wonderfully compassionate people and crushes the very thing which brought them to their career in the first place. I am speaking of medicine in this case because I am most familiar with it, but I know that the trend is paralleled in other professions as well.
If youthful idealism is only wrong insofar as it is unhindered by the sobering pessimism induced by life in the trenches, then I think it should be celebrated, not discouraged. We need more people who care deeply about their patients and their work. We need more people who have not been beaten down by an overtaxed system and moral injury. Classrooms need more teachers who love their students and believe in the work they are doing. We need more painters who believe they can make the world more beautiful with each brushstroke, and more barbers who understand the importance of each conversation with the person sitting in their chair. If medicine were filled with the passion and optimism of first year medical students, we would be far better off, not injured. What gets me up in the morning is the idea that I can make a difference, not that my work is horrible and that I must resign myself to that fact.
I think the question becomes, how do we retain our altruism, empathy and compassion when our work seems bent on driving these qualities out of us? How are we to retain an element of compassion when our compassionate work numbs us? One idea that I have slowly realized is that though these virtues can wilt if left unattended, they can also be cultivated. I can remind myself in the morning that I am doing work that matters, that I am helping people and that I am making a difference. I can bring peace through my quiet and thoughtful work, I can be a therapeutic presence, a voice for change and a beacon of light in a dark place. You can too. Compassion and empathy used to come unbidden but now they need a little coaxing and encouragement. That doesn’t mean that I ought to let them fade, rather, I just need to give them a little push and help them grow. In my youthful enthusiasm I was in love with the idea of helping people. Now I have the opportunity to help people greatly. The work is hard but it is good and it is worth doing.
I wholeheartedly agree that it’s important to remind ourselves each day that what we are doing does matter, whether it is treating patients, teaching students, or parenting kids. It’s like the story of the person tossing starfish back into the water. We may not be able to reach everyone, but we can make a difference where we are and try to positively impact the lives of those the Lord puts in our paths. Thank you for this reminder.