Everything you want is on the other side of something you don’t want to feel
Pop culture would have you believe that feeling your feelings is commonplace. When I was going through my list of possible songs to link to this post, it was clear that people like to talk about (and sing about) th...
“You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically—to say ‘no’ to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside.”
―Stephen Covey
Work-life balance has become increasingly popular over ...
People pleasers are liars.
The first time I heard that quote, I was a bit shocked. As a native New Yorker, I have a rather direct manner of speaking, and it feels more natural to just “say it like it is.” My words are often a little too blunt. Despite my direct nature, the word lia...
“The word ‘should’ is an enemy of growth and a thief of joy.”
―Kevin Ngo
The first time I heard the phrase “shoulding all over yourself,” I laughed. As a gastroenterologist, I have a particular affinity for poop jokes. It might not be obvious when you read the phrase, but say it out l...
“The Hospital Will Not Love You Back.”
–Vagabond MD
During a physician meeting, one of my partners began talking about physician satisfaction. He said it in a very matter-of-fact way. He spoke about how our current way of doing things affected physician satisfaction. As he spoke, I beg...
“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...
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...
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 ...