Creating Meaningful Change

In last week's episode of EZ Conversations, I had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Michael Broukhim (Listen Here), and we explored his essential work in the field of Psychiatry. Dr. Broukhim also shared that he will soon begin Rabbinical school as another way to make a profound impact on the field of mental health. His philosophy centers on helping clients create meaning from their experiences—a crucial element that is often overlooked in modern psychiatric practice.

We also discussed the broader impact of Psychiatry on humanity, including the troubling trend of overmedication. This, Dr. Broukhim acknowledged, highlights the paradox at the heart of his work: even while aware of the system’s shortcomings, he remains deeply inspired by the meaningful progress his patients and clients make.

As I reflected on our conversation, I was struck by the power of creating change from within one’s field, exactly what Dr. Broukhim is doing. Over time, I’ve spoken to many experts across various disciplines who are inspiring meaningful change from the inside. Their stories continue to give me hope as I navigate my uncharted waters, carving out a new path.

It’s easy to feel hopeless or stuck in certain situations and to wait for someone else to fix the problems we see. It takes real courage to accept responsibility and actively work toward change, whether that means changing ourselves or the systems around us.

The Research Behind Inner Transformation and Responsibility

Taking Ownership Builds Psychological Strength

Research shows that taking responsibility and ownership over one’s circumstances enhances resilience, self-regulation, and long-term well-being. A study in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin demonstrated that when people felt personally accountable, they were more likely to engage in proactive coping and positive reframing, reducing stress over time (Thompson, 2009).

Psychologist Carol Dweck’s work on the growth mindset also underscores how embracing responsibility for our development fosters persistence and adaptability—even in the face of setbacks (Dweck & Schumann, 2017).

Meaning-Making and Mental Health

Finding meaning in adversity or everyday life is a cornerstone of psychological health. Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy argued that meaning is not a luxury, but a fundamental psychological need. Modern studies continue to affirm that purpose and meaning act as buffers against depression and anxiety, while strengthening overall life satisfaction (Steger, Frazier, Oishi, & Kaler, 2006).

Changing From the Inside Spurs Creativity and Innovation

A large meta-analysis in Frontiers in Psychology confirmed that intrinsic motivation—being driven by personal interest and meaning—significantly boosts creativity and problem-solving skills (Cerasoli et al., 2014). This underscores why meaningful change often starts internally, through personal conviction, before it ripples outward.

Helping Others Heals Us Too

Embracing responsibility often means stepping beyond ourselves to help others. Research on the Helper Therapy Principle shows that people who provide support not only build skills and confidence but also experience reductions in distress and improvements in their mental health (Riessman, 1965; Schwartz & Sendor, 1999).

Moving Forward: Taking Responsibility and Making Change Meaningful

Whether it’s a psychiatrist rethinking the foundations of his practice or someone like you or me finding new purpose in uncharted territories, meaningful change starts inside. It requires us to take ownership over our choices, our values, and sometimes even over the systems we’re part of.

As we’ve explored, doing so doesn’t just change outcomes externally. It rewires how we see ourselves, builds resilience, fuels creativity, and brings a more profound sense of meaning to our lives.

References

• Cerasoli, C. P., Nicklin, J. M., & Ford, M. T. (2014). Intrinsic Motivation and Extrinsic Incentives Jointly Predict Performance: A 40-Year Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 5, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00013

• Dweck, C. S., & Schumann, K. (2017). Who takes the blame? Who makes it better? How mindset shapes attributions and behaviors after conflicts. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 112(1), 67–88. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000112

• Frankl, V. E. (1959). Man’s Search for Meaning. Boston: Beacon Press.

• Riessman, F. (1965). The “helper” therapy principle. Social Work, 10(2), 27–32.

• Schwartz, C., & Sendor, M. (1999). Helping others helps oneself: Response shift effects in peer support. Social Science & Medicine, 48(11), 1563–1575.

• Steger, M. F., Frazier, P., Oishi, S., & Kaler, M. (2006). The Meaning in Life Questionnaire: Assessing the presence of and search for meaning in life. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 80–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.1.80

• Thompson, L. (2009). How responsibility influences cognitive processing of stress: The role of personal control. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35(10), 1386–1396.
  

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