“We’re afraid that the feeling of joy won’t last, or that the other shoe is going to drop. We think, ‘I’m feeling good, this can’t be right; something bad is going to happen.’” 

—Brené Brown

Foreboding Joy. I didn’t make it up. I had never even heard of foreboding joy until I read Dar...

“If you have integrity, nothing else matters. 

If you don’t have integrity, nothing else matters.”

–Harvey Mackay

Here’s something I never thought I’d say: I attended a conference for entrepreneurs. Over the years, I’ve been to countless medical conferences where the atmosphere is f...

“Discomfort is the currency of your dreams.”

--Brooke Castillo

According to Google, comfort is a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint.  Just reading that makes me feel more relaxed.  Comfort is quiet, warm, and cozy.  It is security and the sense that everything ...

“Learning to accept compliments gracefully is a vital part of learning to love yourself.”
―Unknown 

Early in my coaching journey, I complimented my physician coach on an enlightening session.  She responded, “I accept your compliment with gratitude.” I raised a curious eyebrow, “Huh?” Sh...

“Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.” 

—Brené Brown

In her book, I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t), Brené Brown takes the time to distinguish the difference between guilt and shame.  Guilt is: “I did something bad.” Shame is: “I am bad.” The...

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is relax.” 

—Mark Black

In August 2022, I gave myself one job: Do nothing. My goal was to rest, rejuvenate and relax. I have spent so much of my life hustling and achieving that a much-needed rest was undoubtedly in order. And guess what happened? I ...

“When I argue with reality, I lose—but only 100% of the time.” 

—Byron Katie

Control is an illusion. We all know that to be true. We can be diligent about planning, coordinating, and scheduling and even leave a margin for error. And sometimes, despite our best efforts, things don’t...

You can’t read the label from inside the jar.

I never saw myself as an athlete. Little League was an indisputable disaster, and my confidence was shaken. I did have a barbell and a bench and started lifting weights as a teenager. It wasn’t a regular hobby, but I enjoyed it. The weightli...

“Life does not change if you only modify the content,

your life will change if you will dare to alter the context.”

–Santosh Kalwar

Have you heard the commencement speech given by David Foster Wallace, called This Is Water? I hadn’t. It isn’t your typical commencement speech filled w...

Balance does not mean that everything gets equal weighting all the time

One of the biggest struggles of my adult life has been the elusive idea of work-life balance.  It seems like a simple concept.  First, determine your priorities.  Then, live your life aligned with those priorities. ...

“Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life.”
―Les Brown

We ask our children to wonder and dream, and they do.

• What do you want to be when you grow up? 
• If you had a million dollars, what would you do with it? 
• If you could be a superher
...

“Life is about taking chances, trying new things, having fun, making mistakes, and learning from it.”
―Unknown

As I settled into the new identity of physician coach, I struggled to find ways to express my thoughts and ideas.  I know most people are captivated by audio and video, but I was...