“Working hard for something we do not care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion.”
― Simon Sinek, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action
Have you ever set out to accomplish a new goal? Maybe you wanted to lose weight, save ...
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
– Anne Lamott
While coaching a physician, we started talking about his upcoming vacation. He and his wife had planned a two-week South Pacific trip, which sounded incredible. As he spoke about his break, he t...
“Sometimes the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance.”
―Ruth E. Renkel
It is incredible to look back at your life and recognize the critical moments that led you to become the unique human being you are today. Many people, places, and things needed to come together ...
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
―
I stumbled upon the Financial Independence Retirement Early (FIRE) movement when I was extremely frustrated with medicine. Retirement seemed like the best solution for my physician burnout. I’m not sure I completely understo...
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 ...