Growing at the Speed of Light: Thriving in a World That Will Never Be Slower

Last week I had the privilege of speaking among friends at CUF - Hospitais e Clínicas Descobertas' Mental Health Seminar.

Acceleration, change, and adaptation are concepts that permeate every aspect of our lives — and in healthcare, they become even more critical. How can we, as healthcare professionals, parents, and individuals, keep up with a world that will never be slower?

Thank you Margarida Crujo , Rita Rapazote and Andreia Araújo ! You made my day!

A Personal Reflection on Change

If there’s one theme that runs through every part of my life, it’s this: the world is accelerating, and it will never be slower.

I feel it as a parent, trying to raise my children in a world where technology, education, and expectations evolve faster than ever. I experience it as a child psychiatrist, where the needs of young patients—and the tools available to help them—are constantly shifting. I see it as a Medical Director in a leading pharmaceutical company, where science, data, and innovation are advancing at an exponential rate.

This acceleration is not something we can avoid. It impacts all of us, in every role we play. The real question is: how do we respond to it?

The Acceleration We Cannot Ignore

When faced with rapid change, people tend to react in one of two ways:

• Like a dog chasing its own tail, always running but never quite catching up.
• Like a turtle retreating into its shell, resisting change and hoping things will slow down.

Neither of these responses helps us thrive. Instead, we need to shift our mindset and recognize change as an opportunity for growth.

How Fast Is the World Moving?

The numbers speak for themselves:

• The Internet: In 2000, 361 million people were online. Today, more than 5 billion are connected, reshaping how we communicate, consume information, and interact with the world.
• Smartphones: Once a niche technology, there are now 6.9 billion smartphones, essential to communication, work, and entertainment.
• Data Explosion: We generated 2 exabytes of data annually in 2000. In 2024, we generate 175 zettabytes—a staggering increase.
• Genomic Breakthroughs: The first human genome took 13 years and $2.7 billion to sequence. Today, we can do it in less than 24 hours for under $1,000—revolutionizing medicine.
• Medical Knowledge Growth: The number of articles in PubMed grew from 10 million in 2000 to 37 million in 2024, with 1 million new publications each year.

These shifts are not just numbers—they reflect an entirely new reality.

Digital Health: An Inevitable Ally

In healthcare, we often see technology as an external force, something to be managed rather than embraced. But in reality, digital health is one of our most powerful allies in navigating this accelerating world.

With the integration of clinical data, genomics, AI, and digital tools, we now have an unprecedented, high-definition view of individuals and diseases. This allows for more personalized, precise, and proactive healthcare.

The challenge is no longer about whether we should adopt digital health—it is about how fast we can adapt to fully leverage its potential.

Mindset Matters: The Lobster Analogy

Growth is never comfortable. In nature, lobsters provide a great analogy for how we should face change.

A lobster grows by shedding its old shell, leaving itself vulnerable for a time before developing a stronger, larger one. Without this uncomfortable phase, it cannot grow.

As professionals, we need to adopt a growth mindset (as Carol Dweck describes) and recognize that discomfort and vulnerability are essential for development. Only by embracing change, rather than resisting it, can we truly grow.

Final Thought: The Choice Is Ours

The world will keep accelerating, whether we like it or not. We can either:

• Struggle to keep up, feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
• Resist change, falling behind and missing opportunities.
• Embrace a growth mindset, learning and evolving with the world.

As Viktor Frankl once said: "When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves."

The choice is ours. And that is truly AMAZING!!!