Blog

There are at least two ways that we can get stuck when it comes to identity. Either we take such a rigid view of our identity that it keeps us small, cutting us off from the fullness of our present selves. Or we chain ourselves to an identity we’ve outgrown, leading us away from the manifold possible future versions of ourselves.

How can we as parents balance our children’s need for safety with their need for autonomy? How do we know when it’s time to step away from the proverbial bottom of the slide and let them find their own footing?

At work, we so often wear our challenges close to the chest, fearing that revealing them may result in being viewed as weak or less equipped to perform the job at hand.

Skiing is more than just an opportunity to wear unreasonable shades of neon. It actually provides valuable insights into navigating our professional lives.

I used to think of communication as a tool, a means to an end, a way of moving towards a specific outcome with the person I was interacting with. My NVC experience made me realize that communication is not a tool. The outcome is not the point, the connection is.

Creating order out of chaos is what makes me feel calm and in control. I control my surroundings; I control my time; I control the outcome of my life. I’ve invested a lot of time and energy in perpetuating this illusion of control and I really don’t appreciate when it is undermined.

As someone obsessed with understanding and optimizing the experience of doctoring, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on which things made my life easier while navigating transitions, and which ones I wish I had known to implement.

It’s so easy for me to feel both underwhelmed and overwhelmed. Perhaps those two states of being feed each other.

Sleep is very much in the Zeitgeist. Stronger immune system, improved executive function, faster reflexes, better mood, longer life. It’s very compelling. You know who isn’t sleeping 8 hours a night? Moms. And physicians. And least of all M.MDs