Even superheroes have limits
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-blog/MY01665
- With Mayo Clinic oncologist
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
Edward Creagan, M.D.
"The magic of the electronic village is transforming health information. The mouse and keyboard have extended the stethoscope to the 500 million people now online." — Dr. Edward Creagan
The power of the medium inspires Dr. Edward Creagan as he searches for ways to share Mayo Clinic's vast resources with the general public.
Dr. Creagan, a Newark, N.J., native, is board certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hospice medicine and palliative care. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1973 and in 1999 was president of the staff of Mayo Clinic.
Dr. Creagan, a professor of medical oncology at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, was honored in 1995 with the John and Roma Rouse Professor of Humanism in Medicine Award and in 1992 with the Distinguished Mayo Clinician Award, Mayo's highest recognition. He has been recognized with the American Cancer Society Professorship of Clinical Oncology.
He describes his areas of special interest as "wellness as a bio-psycho-social-spiritual-financial model" and fitness, mind-body connection, aging and burnout.
Dr. Creagan has been an associate medical editor with Mayo Clinic's health information websites and has edited publications and CD-ROMs and reviewed articles.
"We the team of (the website) provide reliable, easy-to-understand health and wellness information so that each of us can have productive, meaningful lives," he says.
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Stress blog
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Jan. 19, 2011
Even superheroes have limits
By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
It's very easy to look at other people and have a sense of envy. You know the type — people who seem to have it all, are popular, financially secure and professionally revered. But at the end of the day, they're still human and they have limits like everyone else. This was brought home to me recently by a chance encounter.
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At a wonderful social gathering, there were several individuals I knew casually. One gentleman was a "rock star" in our profession, an acknowledged speaker, a revered scientist whose opinion was sought after by corporations and security agencies. He always keeps a suitcase packed and has a James Bond lifestyle.
He shared with our gathering that his professional year is so intense in terms of proposals and writings that by October he is completely exhausted. He's learned that if he doesn't take off time in November and December he won't have the energy to keep going.
Another important lesson here — you must recognize your limits. You only have so much energy and so much focus. If you allow yourself to become worn down, you won't be able to use your gifts and skills to serve those who depend on you.
So as you head into this new year, remember you have an opportunity to take care of yourself. Don't let it fall by the wayside, because if your health deteriorates nothing else really matters.
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