--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But I realized that not only did I need…" description: "\"“But I realized that not only did I need to keep tuning my skills as a doctor, I also had to figure out a way to live with the uncertainty of medicine ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/danielle-ofri-26196_anxiety_but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need_1396880.jpg" --- # But I realized that not only did I need to keep tuning my… ![“But I realized that not only did I need to keep tuning my skills as a doctor, I also had to figure out a way to live with the uncertainty of medicine and its attendant anxiety.” quote by Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/danielle-ofri-26196_anxiety_but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need_1396880.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/danielle-ofri-26196_anxiety_but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need_1396880.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/danielle-ofri-26196_anxiety_but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need_1396880.jpg) > ““But I realized that not only did I need to keep tuning my skills as a doctor, I also had to figure out a way to live with the uncertainty of medicine and its attendant anxiety.”” [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A physician must continuously improve skills while learning to live with medical uncertainty and anxiety. **In simple terms:** Doctors need growth and coping with uncertainty. Key Takeaway Embrace lifelong learning and anxiety management. Themes medicine uncertainty growth Mood thoughtful motivational Type professional emotional When to use this quote - clinical practice - patient communication - career development - self‑care routines Key Concepts continuous education stress resilience Questions to Reflect On - What strategies help you manage professional anxiety? - How can you integrate uncertainty into practice? A Different Perspective Balancing skill improvement with emotional health is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anxiety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) [Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctor/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/) [Skills Doctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills-doctor-4884544/) [Uncertainty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty/) [Uncertainty Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uncertainty-medicine-4884543/) ## Related quotes > [Simply being with someone is difficult because it asks of us that we share in the other's vulnerability, enter with him or her into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-nouwen/simply-being-with-someone-is-difficult-because-it-asks-of-us-that-we/) [Henri Nouwen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-nouwen/) > [“Today's pace induces uncertainty, which stresses the end of security, welcomes the era of anxiety, and demands greater creativity - toward increased life quality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/today-s-pace-induces-uncertainty-which-stresses-the-end-of-security/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [I think that it's a great idea to have honest conversations about children before getting married. I also think it's impossible to promise someone,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mallory-ortberg/i-think-that-it-s-a-great-idea-to-have-honest-conversations-about/) [Mallory Ortberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mallory-ortberg/) > [“Because God is trustworthy, you need not let worry steal your joy for one more day. With God as your leader, even when confusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-morrison/because-god-is-trustworthy-you-need-not-let-worry-steal-your-joy-for/) [Jon Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-morrison/) > [... we know that productivity suffers when uncertainty is high. But we've failed to realize the equally destructive effects of too little anxiety. ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-m-bardwick/we-know-that-productivity-suffers-when-uncertainty-is-high-but-we-ve/) [Judith M Bardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-m-bardwick/) > [“Anxiety = Uncertainty x Powerlessness”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chip-conley/anxiety-uncertainty-x-powerlessness/) [Chip Conley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chip-conley/) > [Career is the stringing together of opportunities and jobs. Mix in public opinion and past regrets. Add a dash of future panic and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-poehler/career-is-the-stringing-together-of-opportunities-and-jobs-mix-in/) [Amy Poehler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-poehler/) > [What we need in medical schools is not to teach empathy, as much as to preserve it - the process of learning huge volumes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-verghese/what-we-need-in-medical-schools-is-not-to-teach-empathy-as-much-as-to/) [Abraham Verghese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-verghese/) > [Marriages are always moving from one season to another. Sometimes we find ourselves in winter--discouraged, detached, and dissatisfied; other times we experience springtime, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/marriages-are-always-moving-from-one-season-to-another-sometimes-we/) [Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/) > [Moses became America's true founding father because he evangelized action; he justified risk. He gave ordinary people the courage to live with uncertainty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-feiler/moses-became-america-s-true-founding-father-because-he-evangelized/) [Bruce Feiler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-feiler/) > [“She's sure, absolutely sure, that what she's waiting for will happen, just the way she wants it to; and I'm so uncertain, so fearful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-lowry/she-s-sure-absolutely-sure-that-what-she-s-waiting-for-will-happen/) [Lois Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-lowry/) > [I don't think we should tell them what we're going to do in advance. Let them think. Worry. Wonder. Uncertainty is the most chilling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vernon-a-walters/i-don-t-think-we-should-tell-them-what-we-re-going-to-do-in-advance/) [Vernon A. Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vernon-a-walters/) > [Here today, may be gone tomorrow! Never take anyone or nothing for granted! Be sure to count your blessing daily because tomorrow isn't promised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/surgeo-bell/here-today-may-be-gone-tomorrow-never-take-anyone-or-nothing-for/) [Surgeo Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/surgeo-bell/) > [The dream of coming back is becoming a reality. A lot of the uncertainty about the future has been cleared up. A lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tagliabue/the-dream-of-coming-back-is-becoming-a-reality-a-lot-of-the/) [Paul Tagliabue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tagliabue/) > [I have lifted my plane . . . for perhaps a thousand flights and I have never felt her wheels glide from the Earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beryl-markham/i-have-lifted-my-plane-for-perhaps-a-thousand-flights-and-i-have/) [Beryl Markham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beryl-markham/) ## More by Danielle Ofri > [“In general, empathy is easier the more we can identify with someone. When we can genuinely envision ourselves in a situation, it's possible to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/in-general-empathy-is-easier-the-more-we-can-identify-with-someone/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“How the sadness is handled by the physician has a powerful impact on the medical care received by the patients. If the grief is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/how-the-sadness-is-handled-by-the-physician-has-a-powerful-impact-on/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Burnout also leads to a large swath of physicians who aren't as empathetic toward their patients as they could be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/burnout-also-leads-to-a-large-swath-of-physicians-who-aren-t-as/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Grief ate at these doctors, distracting them from both their families and their patients. Many reported withdrawing from emotional involvement with their patients and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/grief-ate-at-these-doctors-distracting-them-from-both-their-families/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Empathy requires being attuned to the patient's perspective and understanding how the illness is woven into this particular persons' life. Last--and this is where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/empathy-requires-being-attuned-to-the-patient-s-perspective-and/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Hospital life--with its byzantine array of moving parts layered atop the unpredictable rhythms of illness--is a permanent state of flux.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/hospital-life-with-its-byzantine-array-of-moving-parts-layered-atop/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Fear is a primal emotion in medicine. Every doctor can tell you of times when she or he was terrified; most can list more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/fear-is-a-primal-emotion-in-medicine-every-doctor-can-tell-you-of/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [Being a doctor, I worry that the patient may be uncomfortable about sharing something. It could be sexual dysfunction, an eating disorder, depression, domestic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/being-a-doctor-i-worry-that-the-patient-may-be-uncomfortable-about/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Empathy--the ability to identify with someone else's suffering--is certainly a prerequisite for a genuine apology.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/empathy-the-ability-to-identify-with-someone-else-s-suffering-is/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Neuroscientist Antonio Damasio describes emotions as the "continuous musical line of our minds, the unstoppable humming." This basso continuo thrums along while doctors make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/neuroscientist-antonio-damasio-describes-emotions-as-the-continuous/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Thus, whatever the medical student has been taught, and even genuinely believes, about the ideals of medicine, the primacy of empathy, the value of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/thus-whatever-the-medical-student-has-been-taught-and-even-genuinely/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“But while the patient does bear some responsibility, I believe that the onus falls more heavily on the doctor to be attuned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/but-while-the-patient-does-bear-some-responsibility-i-believe-that/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [Doctors are taught in medical school that people ususally underreport their alcohol and drug use, so we genreal double the amount we're told. Don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/doctors-are-taught-in-medical-school-that-people-ususally-underreport/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“Suddenly, I was plunged back into an avid learning environment, starting at the bottom and working my way painstakingly up the mountain. The thrill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/suddenly-i-was-plunged-back-into-an-avid-learning-environment/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) > [“What these older physicians exhibited is termed clinical curiosity. They stroke to understand their patients in order to elucidate the underlying medical conditions. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/what-these-older-physicians-exhibited-is-termed-clinical-curiosity/) [Danielle Ofri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) [Explore all 22 Danielle Ofri quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/) ## More Anxiety quotes > [“Anything that you find yourself worrying about regularly may find you suddenly wanting unrealistic changes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nagisa-tatsumi/anything-that-you-find-yourself-worrying-about-regularly-may-find-you/) [Nagisa Tatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nagisa-tatsumi/) > [Bein Crazy is the least of my worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/bein-crazy-is-the-least-of-my-worries/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [The answer to deep anxiety is the deep adoration of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/the-answer-to-deep-anxiety-is-the-deep-adoration-of-god/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“Fear of seeing a police car pull into the drive. Fear of falling asleep at night. Fear of not falling asleep. Fear of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-carver/fear-of-seeing-a-police-car-pull-into-the-drive-fear-of-falling/) [Raymond Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-carver/) > [I get nervous when I don't get nervous. If I'm nervous I know I'm going to have a good show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/i-get-nervous-when-i-don-t-get-nervous-if-i-m-nervous-i-know-i-m/) [Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/) > [“Every invention comes through anxiousness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rakesh-wadhwani/every-invention-comes-through-anxiousness/) [Rakesh Wadhwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rakesh-wadhwani/) > [“Do Not Be Anxious 25 e “Therefore I tell you,  f do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-be-anxious-25-e-therefore-i-tell-you-f-do-not-be-anxious-about/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Nothing happens on its own, you have to make things happen. If you really want to come out of your stressful situation than you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subodh-gupta/nothing-happens-on-its-own-you-have-to-make-things-happen-if-you/) [Subodh Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subodh-gupta/) > [“I guess if we're talking about my anxiety, the even truthier truth is it started way before that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kerry-winfrey/i-guess-if-we-re-talking-about-my-anxiety-the-even-truthier-truth-is/) [Kerry Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kerry-winfrey/) > [I was a very good student. Procrastinating gives me anxiety, and getting a B really ticked me off. Sure, I didn't always want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-loren/i-was-a-very-good-student-procrastinating-gives-me-anxiety-and/) [Josie Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-loren/) > [“The suspense: the fearful, acute suspense: of standing idly by while the life of one we dearly love, is trembling in the balance; the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-suspense-the-fearful-acute-suspense-of-standing-idly-by-while-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [As you know, I have been very open about my struggle with social anxiety.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/summer-walker/as-you-know-i-have-been-very-open-about-my-struggle-with-social/) [Summer Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/summer-walker/) > [Anxiety is not to be managed it is a sin that needs to be repented of](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-driscoll/anxiety-is-not-to-be-managed-it-is-a-sin-that-needs-to-be-repented-of/) [Mark Driscoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-driscoll/) > [“I’ve always seen this in you, ever since you were a little girl — this hunger to love other people into their highest selves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-elisabeth/i-ve-always-seen-this-in-you-ever-since-you-were-a-little-girl-this/) [Jennifer Elisabeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-elisabeth/) [Browse all 4,944 Anxiety quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anxiety/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“But I realized that not only did I need to keep tuning my skills as a doctor, I also had to figure out a way to live with the uncertainty of medicine and its attendant anxiety.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Danielle Ofri" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need-to-keep-tuning-my-skills-as-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Anxiety" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need-to-keep-tuning-my-skills-as-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/danielle-ofri-26196_anxiety_but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need_1396880.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/danielle-ofri-26196_anxiety_but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need_1396880.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/903/danielle-ofri-26196_anxiety_but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need_1396880.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“But I realized that not only did I need to keep tuning my skills as a doctor, I also had to figure out a way…” — Danielle Ofri", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Danielle Ofri", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-ofri/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“But I realized that not only...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need-to-keep-tuning-my-skills-as-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-ofri/but-i-realized-that-not-only-did-i-need-to-keep-tuning-my-skills-as-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```