The Sufi concept of fana'—the dissolution or annihilation of the self—serves as a metaphor for psychological transformation, particularly in contexts of grief, ego death, and identity reshaping. A poem and accompanying photograph explore these themes, with the image showing a person at the edge of a path facing an untamed landscape, symbolizing confrontation with the unknown self and surrender. The work suggests that emotional rupture, identity instability, and deep longing can catalyze growth, and that embracing loss rather than resisting it can initiate healing and renewal.
A structured well-being curriculum for medical residents, covering cognitive distortions, mindfulness, creative outlets, and self-compassion, improved knowledge and positively influenced personal and professional lives. Before the curriculum, an average of 22.7% of residents reported moderate or higher knowledge across domains; after completion, this rose to 77.3%. Of participants, 58.6% found the knowledge moderately or extremely influential in their professional lives, and 83.6% in their personal lives. No significant differences were observed between second- and third-year residents. The findings suggest that group-based well-being training can shift mindsets toward purpose and engagement, though larger studies are needed.
A psychiatrist-in-training describes how a patient's use of mindfulness teachings from Gautama Buddha inspired an artwork. The patient imagined the Buddha meditating in a natural setting as a symbol of peace and stillness, countering her depression and anxiety. The psychiatrist created a vivid drawing with flowers, vines, a butterfly, and feathers to evoke life and levity, blurring the Buddha's outline with natural elements to reflect Eastern philosophy's challenge to separateness. Foxes, representing transformation in Eastern mythos, symbolize the mind as a companion sublimating negative thoughts through creativity. This exercise reaffirmed the psychiatrist's interest in psychiatry, seeing the mind's protective creativity as an unseen canvas.