Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously Posted on February 19, 2006 David J. Kupfer (bio) emphasizes the importance of continued development.

But to characterize one, which is what we're talking about, which is how does one remain a viable clinical investigator or clinical scientist, is that you can't take yourself too seriously. I assiduously avoid the notion about low, medium, high. If I can't get as agitated about the rejection of a paper from a journal as I was many, many years ago, or if I can't get as infuriated and angry and vowing to do better when a grant doesn't get a fundable priority score in any way different than perhaps 20-30 years ago, then I think we're in trouble.

Now there are some things around wisdom that one can pick up along the way, and there are some things about responses or knowing, around the wisdom issue, well these things come and go, or I now know what I didn't know 10-15 years ago about how to respond to these kinds of things, so your coping mechanisms or your repertoire is larger.

This business about again this linear thing that now you're there and everything is always going to go your way and if you set up a project or a problem, of course you'll find the answer, because after all think of who you are now. I've seen lots of people fall that way, so my advice is, "Don't get too high."

I keep preaching that. I keep saying, "Look, I'm still worrying about getting this rejection or not getting this fundable or being concerned, etc." Once you stop doing that, then it's time for your Mediterranean cruise.

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