Stress-Less Physician

Most of us are at least somewhat careful regarding how we speak about others. We try not to be overly cruel or to put others down too much. But we’re rarely as observant or conscientious of how we speak about ourselves. We don’t analyze our self-criticism or our self-talk. But just like how you speak about someone else has an impact, so does how you speak about yourself. As does the manner in whic...

Your Dream Practice. Just thinking about it might cause you to sigh with longing. But like planning a dream trip, you must be clear on where you want to go. As I’ve been planning some trips lately, I’ve been pondering this parallel. Without knowing where you’re headed, working toward a dream practice becomes muddled. It can even become little more than an exercise in frustration and futility. But...

Can playing a version of a children’s game actually help us make decisions? Help us know what path to take? I think so. In this episode, I share my #1 coaching tool: Warmer versus Colder–and how it can help us as adults. It may seem silly but this method taps into our intuition and our natural sense of the correct answer to questions we’re asking and decisions we’re making. Let’s explore how and w...

Noticing the story of your past and how it’s affecting your present can help you recontextualize it. This can lead to healing changes such as removing limiting beliefs, removing some of the sting of the past, and others. All of this can help lead you into a better future. To accomplish this, I want to talk about how to change your past. I truly believe you can change your past… in a way. In the mo...

As children, we’re often told what to believe and/or feel. We don’t have much choice in what we believe. But as adults, that’s not true. No one can actually make us believe anything without our consent. This should prompt us to examine how we’re processing what we believe. That’s why I feel it’s important to evaluate what you believe and what influences those beliefs. For example, what from your p...

It’s been said that if you wait until you “feel” ready, you’ll never act. Of course, this isn’t the case for all people or even every situation but sometimes, there are things we want to do, or we even should do, that we may never really feel totally ready for. But do you have to feel completely ready or can you just get started? In this episode, I want to explore this idea. What if you don’t wait...

Constraint, when placed upon ourselves, can be extremely powerful because it’s all about intentionality. It’s not about limiting ourselves simply for the sake of discipline. It’s about purposefully and thoughtfully removing or subtracting things from our lives to attain a bigger goal. Thus this voluntary form of restraint comes from a place of autonomy and ownership. That’s why it’s important to b...

Making decisions ahead of time may, on the surface, seem like a constraining habit. Like your freedom to choose in the moment would be stripped away. However, it’s been my experience that the opposite is actually true. There is a very real and very prevalent source of overwhelm and stress: Decision fatigue. We literally make hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of decisions every single day. But when...

Have you ever written a letter from your future self? It’s pretty common motivational advice to write a letter  to  your future self, outlining what you want to accomplish, who you’re going to be, and so forth. But what if, instead, you wrote a letter from your future self? What would that look like? I’ve taken on the habit of talking with and thinking about my future self at about 60, o...

Sometimes life hands us trouble after trouble. One thing goes wrong, then another, then another… and before you know it, you’ve suffered through a series of difficult times. When that happens, employing some thought work skills, along with gaining insight and perspective, is invaluable. What prompted this podcast was my own experience of just one thing after another going wrong. I wanted so b...

In our modern society we have an aversion to the concept of being lazy or idle. We see it as a negative thing. But what if it’s not? Of course, I’m not saying we should do nothing all the time. But I am talking about the lost art of relaxing and why you need a lazy day. Allowing myself to have unscheduled time or to take a lazy day is something I’m actually pretty good at. I know that’s an odd thi...

Life is an endless series of ups and downs. And, unfortunately, that means that sometimes things just don’t go right. Plans get messed up, expectations are dashed, disappointments invade our otherwise happy life. In this episode, I to talk about how to cope with things go wrong. Interestingly, I recorded this for you on the still-hot-heels of a vacation day gone wrong. I invite you to take a journ...

The word toxic is a powerful and emotional one. And I believe it’s sometimes overused. After all, by the literal definition, people cannot technically be toxic and only specific jobs are. Yet we find this word used frequently and perhaps have used it ourselves. So as we consider the word toxic, I invite you to contemplate with me: Does this word serve me well? Considering that it’s a very dramatic...

There are some sentences that nearly suck the life out of you. They’re deflating. But then, there are sentences that infuse you with life. They’re invigorating. Then there are those sentences which can be used to reflect on truths that make us both wiser and less stressed. For this episode, I compiled a long list of sentences I personally have found to be useful. Each one, in some way, brings me b...

Just feeling off or blah happens to us all. On that inevitable off day, perhaps the best gift we can give ourselves is to simply allow the feelings to come and go... Give ourselves room to breathe, to be human, to accept that this, too, is part of the human experience. Sometimes being in a funk just passes on its own. Something happens that changes how we feel or it’s blissfully time for bed and s...

Decision making is often ultimately between quitting something or sticking with it. Continuing on the path you’re on or choosing a new one. But finding the correct path for yourself is not always a clear one. Should you stick with it or cut your losses? Should you persevere or decide enough is enough? As I’ve pondered this dilemma, I’ve reflected upon how many things I’ve quit and how ea...

Questions we ask that lead us to solutions and positivity are extremely helpful and useful. But we sometimes tend to ask ourselves dead end questions. These are the ones that lead us in a downward spiral and cause us to only find support for the negative. This is why it’s so important to really think about how you phrase questions to yourself and others. It can completely change the outcome. As I...

If asked, I think nearly everyone would love to have their everyday life feel more like vacation. But the question is: How? What, exactly, is the difference between regular life and vacation life? I believe much of the difference lies in how you and I view things and approach all we need to accomplish. And because so much of it revolves around how we think and feel, I believe we can, with a small...

When we talk about “three little words”, we typically think of “I love you”... which are wonderful words. But there are three  other  little words that have been described as having the power to steal your life: I don’t know.   In considering these three little words, I’ve thought a lot about how “I don’t know” keeps you stuck. And I wanted to offer some thoughts I’ve had aroun...

Regardless of the type of coaching you receive, whether one-on-one, self-coaching, reading books… I believe everyone deserves coaching. And I truly believe you should give yourself the gift of coaching, if you’re not currently doing so. In thinking about the gift of coaching, I have been reflecting on what coaching has meant to me and why I do what I do. I love helping others and have received muc...

Frustration. That irritation that arises from the inability to change or achieve something. We all experience this strong emotion in our lives. Countless circumstances or people can trigger it–even on a daily basis. But perhaps the biggest issue with frustration lies not in the existence of it but in what it does to us internally. In this episode, I dive into the messy realm of frustration. When f...

Having time in your day to simply think can seem impossible. There is so much to do, especially as a busy physician. Or it may seem like an unnecessary or wasteful way to spend time. However, I would submit to you that it's not. It’s actually extremely productive. Having time to process, to mull things over, is healthy and indispensable. Neuroscience suggests that a wandering mind is an unhappy mi...

Ever have one of those “aha” moments–one you thought would alter your life forever–only to have the initial thrill of discovery fade away? This is not only common but normal. A book, a conference, a session, a podcast… all can offer amazing insights. But just gaining awareness of a truth doesn’t automatically mean change in your life. In this episode, I address the issue of why insight isn’t enoug...

There is an uncomfortable type of personal growth known as adversarial growth or post-traumatic growth. While not the way one would choose to grow, it offers opportunity that can be extremely useful and formative. This opportunity can be viewed as three paths, three ways of responding to negative or painful circumstances. One path will take you only in circles, and the second deeper into negativit...

“Maybe” is not a wimpy word. It’s actually quite powerful. But we tend to think it seems uncertain, as though someone is hedging, or being non-committal. However, I actually love the word maybe. It’s one of my favorites.  I think “maybe” is a viable way to handle situations which are uncomfortable in the moment. It offers the opportunity to shift how you’re thinking or feeling in any circumst...