Am I creative? Am I analytical? What the heck am I? And what does the former surgeon general have to do with it?

I had the privilege of seeing Dr. Vivek Murthy, the former Surgeon General of the United States, speak at an event with Barbara Bush yesterday. I could go on for hours about how he's a distinguished doctor, how his achievements extend to a list longer than my arm, or how he has an insanely soothing voice--one that for whatever reason, I never anticipated could belong to a man considered so powerful in the field of medicine...But rather, one thing struck me in spectacular fashion.He was eloquently speaking about love in the field of healthcare and change.The event itself, a fireside chat, was a Q&A about the notion of moral leadership--leading with your heart and doing what's right even if it doesn't always give you the most gain. It was refreshing to hear. Too often, we live in a world that tells us who to be and how to be. We follow arbitrary laws we wrote for ourselves or political methodologies without considering the true impact of our words, our actions and the role of our own moral compass. Professionally, that philosophy is forgotten and sadly, it is one of the most crucial ones out there.Dr. Murthy also spoke of the value of creative time.I am a writer. Obviously, I was going to pay extra attention.As surgeon general, one of his regrets was not carving out designated time to be innovative with life and his profession. Healthcare is a draining field and it's impossible not to feel obligated to it. We dedicate ourselves so wholeheartedly that we can easily lose sight of any creative endeavors. People will always get sick, and the work seems endless because inequities are vast and being uncovered every day...in other words, the hamster wheel continues to spin. As Dr. Murthy said (out of context here, but in relation to the perpetual work to be done and how far we've come): "We can respect the progress we've made without considering our work done." We have miles to go...and we've come far but this fight has only begun to expose the inequities that need conquering.And when a road is long, it's important to be able to carve out 'you' time but it's equally as critical to recognize that innovation and recharging allows for growth to solve the problems that just won't quit. As he put it, "There is light at the end of the tunnel and perhaps we'll never get to the end of the tunnel, but it does get brighter." For me, as he noted during our short conversation, it's more crucial as writing is also my side career--but as a person I should flex those muscles without falling back into an overworked day job cycle, if solely for the purpose of my mental health.For so long, I've called myself the middle ground between analytics and creativity. My friends often hear me describe myself as "treading the line"--a warring side that must be chosen. Even I'll admit that I always thought I should commit to one because being both made me lack in the other. But hearing Dr. Murthy's insight about healthcare, creativity, fostering growth in leadership through love and empathy...these concepts don't feel so mutually exclusive anymore. For once, I don't feel like I have to be one of those things but that any one NEEDS the others in order to max out my potential.I wrote last week of how much I've been struggling. How New York feels dog-eat-dog and I feel too soft professionally. How I feel aimless. How I'm really, really burnt out from doing too much and not being enough.To hear someone--an Indian-American, a healthcare advocate, a kind soul, a theoretical "analyzer" in the form of a physician--speak about (of all things!) leading with love and creativity and openness to possibility...and to see that very same person not only thrive but blast out success beyond his own wildest dreams...The sense of empowerment, pride and wonder was inspiring at the least, and life-changing at the best.I am in awe of the grace and eloquence Dr. Murthy spoke with and I hope that as my loving readers, who I am certain care about the future as much as I do, you will do your research on him and watch him speak on YouTube or at a live event. It will change your life, whether you are in health fields or not, because it will remind you of the most important thing--a point he made during his talk."Do we choose to love others as we love ourselves?"