The Companion Effect - An Uncommon Lever of Resilience

As-salamu alaykum,

You’ve had a rough day or two where things are just not going according to plan whether its with respect to the first half year of your medical training, your preparation for board exams or a patient on your service that has taken a turn for the worse when recovery seemed assured or maybe it’s really a sticky personal situation that’s weighing heavy on you like medical school debt or a even a malpractice complaint or lawsuit in which you’ve been named.

The possibilities and frankly, these realities are endless!

How do you find strength and the resilience to keep showing up for your passion to serve and the Amanah (Trust) to continue to do so with Ihsan (Excellence) in a world that’s littered with any of these scenarios?

Behold! The Companion Effect

One of the places that we should absolutely be turning to is a trusted friend or colleague.

You see, the individualistic ethos of the world we live in today and the emphasis on individual success that propelled many of us through our long years of training is the very thing that will set us up for a bad outcome - from poor coping to suboptimal decisions - clinical and otherwise to burnout. 

A trusted friend is a rare gem and a huge blessing to you.

Similar to the companions of Prophet Muhammad PBUH, these are individuals in your life that turn towards you with sincerity and loyalty and that you reciprocate the same. They empower you with a safe space to tune into and share your worries and struggles. They are always rooting for your success and strive to appreciate the nuances of your challenges in healthcare and beyond to support your journey and growth through them. This is what I call the companion effect. A solid support system for you through your struggles as a healthcare worker that is an often unnamed and untapped factor in your resilience armamentarium.

Divine Wisdom 

“Indeed, Allah was pleased with the believers when they gave the Bay‘ah (pledge) to you (O Muhammad) under the tree, He knew what was in their hearts, and He sent down As-Sakinah (calmness and tranquility) upon them, and He rewarded them with a near victory.” [Surah Al-Fath 48:18]

Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Tafsir al-Quran al-‘Adhim (4/243) that Allah’s statement -“He knew what was in their hearts” - implies their truthfulness, trustworthiness, obedience and adherence.” 

Leverage the Companion Effect to Bolster Your Resilience 

Let’s be real, your companions or mine are not of the breed of those that surrounded Prophet Muhammad PBUH; however, we can agree that these folks are a source of strength and support for you partly because of their commitment to you but more importantly because of their commitment to Allah, the Most High and Prophet Muhammad PBUH that drives them to go the extra mile for you and I and help to bolster our resilience when the going gets tough and we call upon them or they show up sensing that there is a need. 

I’m fortunate to have a few companions in my life who play this role for me. 

Who are your companions and how do you leverage the companion effect to bolster your resilience?

PRO TIP: Take some time to identify those that already fit or could fit this profile in your life and rekindle your connection to them and think about creative ways to take the priceless relationship to the next level.

In sha Allah, in the next couple of newsletters, I will dive into some additional considerations to finding and leveraging your companions with intent.

May Allah, the Most High, surround us with the best of companions that bring us closer to Him and bolster our resilience on our journey to serve others with Ihsan. Amin 

Sincerely,

Sulyman

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