You can’t control how they left you. You can control how you leave them. Consider sending a thank you note.

By Michael Tetreault, Editor-in-Chief, Concierge Medicine Today/Host, Concierge Medicine Forum

Hear me out …

Experts say finishing well requires expressing gratitude — even to those you’ve worked next to, for, and around for the past few years.

Do you want to finish this job, this chapter, or your current season on a high note, or carry the emotional and mental baggage into the exam room or hallways within the confines of your new adventure? Physicians have it tough enough already, wouldn’t you agree?

For one Physician reading this right now, expressing gratitude as they finish this season of their career may well be their most critical test.

“The truth is leaving well is something that takes time. It doesn’t start when you put in your two-week notice. It’s far deeper and more challenging than that. The better you finish your current season, the better you start your next. Finishing well requires planning. Finishing well requires vision. Finishing well requires humility. Finishing well requires character. We honor the organization and the people we’ve served by finishing strong.”

— Global Leadership Summit, J.H., Author, Coach & Consultant and Founder of The For Company

To shine in your exit, sprinkle gratitude everywhere — for those who shared the journey with you. There’s undoubtedly someone and something you appreciate. Flex those gratitude muscles, pen a heartfelt thank-you note to colleagues or buddies on your last day, and surprise them with it after they’ve clocked out on your last day.

And in case you still need a little persuasion, the evidence shows that gratitude is good for the soul. Studies show that people who express appreciation are more optimistic, as well as physically and emotionally healthier. In other words, gratitude stays with those who give it.[1]

A happy and emotionally balanced Physician is a gem for everyone—from patients to loved ones and even your daily crew. It might be a bit of a challenge, but hey, gratitude is worth the effort because a happier YOU equals a happier life.

[1] (Source/Credit/Author: INC. LIFE Home Depot’s CEO Did This 25,000 Times. Science Says You Should Do It TooHere’s a simple and effective leadership tool that is quickly becoming a lost art. EXPERT OPINION BY ELISA BOXER, JOURNALIST AND MINDFULNESS COACH @EBOXER; NOV 10, 2017; https://www.inc.com/elisa-boxer/home-depots-ceo-did-this-25000-times-science-says-you-should-do-it-too.html)