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Sacred moments can be described as brief meaningful connections between human beings.

Our expectations of certain situations often predict reality.

Setting intentions can be a way of setting our expectations and making sacred moments more likely to occur.

Reflective writing can cultivate the openness needed to recognize and embrace sacred moments.

Recently the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study by Jessica Ameling and Sanjay Saint out of the University of Michigan called “Sacred Moment Experiences Among Internal Medicine Physicians”. In it, over 600 doctors were asked if and how frequently they experienced brief periods of meaningful connection with their patients. More than two-thirds of those surveyed reported experiencing such a moment.

It got me wondering what goes into the making of such a moment, not just with patients, but also with colleagues, family, or friends. One factor I think might be important to the development of these experiences is mindfulness: staying in the moment. Being mindful allows us to be aware of small occurrences that might otherwise slip by us. A tiny gesture. A meaningful look. A weighty pause. Any one of these could signal something bigger or deeper is going on than might be obvious at first blush. Exploring them could pave the way for a sacred moment.

Setting intentions for our day can prime us for these experiences. Setting an intention is not the same as setting a goal. It is not so much a to-do list as a to-be list. It is a decision about the kind of human being we want to be today, the values we want to remind ourselves we hold, and an awareness of how we want to show up for those we love or work with. The University of Utah School of Medicine uses intention-setting as part of their “pausing practice” program designed to enhance wellness, noting that “our expectations often shape our reality.” Once we prime ourselves to expect a certain outcome, our senses tend to look for evidence of that outcome all around us. We can “harness the power of positive expectations…by being deliberate about our intention to focus on something positive.” In doing so, we improve satisfaction and our sense of well-being.

Expectations shape reality

The Michigan study found that people who identified as being spiritual or having a strong sense of purpose were more likely to experience sacred moments. This gets back to the idea that expectations prime us for certain outcomes. If we are joyful, if we look for joy, we are very likely to find it. Likewise, being open to these kinds of moments make us more apt to find them.

This kind of openness is one of the five personality traits that might help us to recognize sacred moments when they happen. A reflective writing practice has proven effective in cultivating the kind of openness that keeps us attentive and available – attentive to novel ideas, available to be surprised, and open to sacred moments.

Sacred moments don’t have to be monumental. Dr. Lisa Rosenbaum published a piece in the New England Journal of Medicine a couple of years back about a resident she worked with who, after her shift was over, brought a patient a package of Milk Duds she had been craving. She remarked that it was the most meaningful moment of her entire day.

In their research, Ameling and Saint of the Michigan team found that most physicians never spoke to their colleagues about these sacred moments they had with their patients. Those few who did experienced less burnout. Christine Sinsky, in a related commentary on the research, advises “naming and norming” such moments.

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Cultivating openness through reflective practice

These are conversations worth having. We should not shy away from the possibility of a sacred moment with another human being because it sounds too religious or it feels too “touchy-feely.” In the field of healthcare, doctors and nurses are still burning out with unacceptable frequency. Everyone in caring professions—teachers, social workers, therapists—face the risk of burnout as well.

When I was in medical school and residency years ago, we were taught not to get too close to our patients and to keep our distance. Perhaps some of that warning may have been about professional boundaries, which are important. But largely, I think our mentors were trying to protect us from burnout.

Studies like this one from Ameling and Saint are pointing us in a different direction. We are learning that the very relationships that may at times cause the most suffering—to our patients and by extension to us—are also the ones with the potential to carry the greatest meaning. By developing a mindful, reflective practice such as a daily writing practice, we can open our minds and our hearts to the sacred moments all around us just waiting to happen.

1. Ameling J, Houchens N, Greene MT, et al. Sacred Moment Experiences Among Internal Medicine Physicians. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(5):e2513159. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.13159

2. Sinsky CA. Making Room for Meaningful Moments in Medicine—Prioritizing Continuity and Relationships. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(5):e2513164. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.13164

3. Rosenbaum L. Beyond Moral Injury—Can We Reclaim Agency, Belief, and Joy in Medicine? N Engl J Med 2024;390(10):951-955.

4. https://medicine.utah.edu/gme/wellness/pausing-practices

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