If it isn't painful, is it even valuable?

A client said this to me recently.

How often have I thought this in my life? "If it isn't painful, is it even valuable?"

Even more importantly, how often do I still think it?

This morning, I went blackberry picking with my husband; the time spent was valuable. Walking, talking, it was actually kind of a business planning meeting -- in the sunshine.

The juicy blackberries you pick without poking yourself are the best ones.

The painful ones aren't any more delicious, and they hurt. In the moment and afterward.

Why do we think that if something is not painful, it is not valuable?

In medicine, we are taught that suffering is valiant. Pain, struggle, and sacrifice are signs of our commitment to learning, our patients, and the profession.

What is harder is usually considered more worthwhile.

What if easy is worthwhile?

What if being present and/or resting, pausing, or taking a break is winning?

What if where you are is perfect? What if more is not better?

These sound a little like heresy when someone in medicine says them.

Will you get in trouble?

I get asked all the time what my plan is for growing my business.

I get offers to help me "scale."

Physicians and non-physicians want to work with me and for me.

I have been thinking a lot about how I want to move forward.

In particular, what criteria I want to use to make business decisions.

Meaning, purpose, passion, impact, legacy, and of course love all come to mind.

Would love scale?

Would love do "more"?

The answer is no.

Love would enjoy what I am doing now.

Love would love where I am.

Love would delight in the impact I am making and who I get to work with.

The last time I leaned into this approach, I did end up growing, evolving, and spreading my wings, but not because I needed to, should, or had to.

Because I wanted to.

It's hard to write that without worrying about judgment.

Is doing what you want allowed? Can you be trusted to follow your desires?

It turns out you can.

There is no one out there policing this.

Almost everyone reading this is an amazing human who, when they follow their desires, will do no harm at worst and, at best, will change the world.

I have made the most significant and meaningful impact when I have trusted myself and followed my desires.

What might happen if you did too?