Takeaway
To make others feel like they belong, practice small acts of kindness—for example, offering a warm greeting. Such efforts can significantly contribute to another's well-being.
Passion in the Medical Profession | October 21, 2024 | 2 min read
By Sadiqua Sadaf, MBBS, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India
Medical school is a great opportunity to build longitudinal relationships with classmates and teachers. Over nearly half a decade, you grow familiar with those around you, and they with you. You’re the one who mistook a slit lamp for an ophthalmoscope, or the one who passed out while drawing blood. Gradually, a reputation starts to precede every interaction. And then one day, you’re out of that comfortable place and find yourself in a completely new environment, devoid of all familiarity.
That’s how I felt on my first day of clinical rotations in the U.S. as a medical graduate from India. I struggled to find the confidence to speak up. It was easier to disappear in the background of a busy room than to express the need to feel like I belonged. And it was during this vulnerable time that I truly understood what it means to be “seen.”
It was the how Ms. E slid her arm in mine as she led me to the right floor. The daily greetings of my friend Mr. P at the security desk. The quiet consideration of strangers holding elevator doors and the genuine curiosity of a charming patient who asked me what my name meant. The kindness of residents as they patiently taught me about a new system and the warmth of a sip of coffee made by my attending. It was the joy of being invited to a sendoff for a cherished case manager, the tight hug from my mentor Dr. Y when I was missing home, and the softness of the tissue I was offered by Dr. W as I broke down after an overwhelming first week.
As much as it was my responsibility to make myself heard, it wasn’t until I felt seen that I found my voice again. I learned that it doesn’t take much to pay it forward. Sometimes, all it takes is an acknowledging glance that helps someone take a tangible form.
Here are some tips to help people feel like they belong:
1. Give meaningful presence.
It isn’t the duration or frequency of interactions that makes them significant, but how present you are that leaves a lasting impression.
2. Listen actively.
A minute of careful attention is invaluable.
4. Practice acts of “micro-kindness.”
The impact of a warm smile, a gentle greeting, or even genuine curiosity about someone’s name is vastly underrated. Such gestures of “micro-kindness” punctuate mundane interactions with a much-needed sense of belonging.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”—Aesop
This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.