Life Outside of Medicine: Rediscovering Your Passions

Cost of Prioritizing Everyone Else…and My Wake-Up Call

As a physician, I dedicated so much of my life to the noble pursuit of healing others. Yet, the journey through medical school, residency, and clinical practice demanded that I silence my own needs and passions. The long hours and rigorous training taught me to ignore my inner voice, push through fatigue, and prioritize the needs of my patients and others above my own. I skipped meals, sacrificed sleep, and pushed forward even when my body cried out for rest. Somewhere along the way, I lost touch with the things that once brought me joy.

Then my daughter was born, and that moment changed everything. She brought me back to life in ways I never expected. Watching the world through her eyes reminded me of what it was like to feel wonder, joy, and curiosity. She made me remember what it felt like to simply be—to laugh, to create, to dream. She was the wake-up call I needed, showing me the parts of myself I had forgotten so long ago.

Rediscovering Passions and Embracing All Parts of Myself

That moment sparked a journey of self-rediscovery. I realized that to be the best physician and mom I could be, I needed to reconnect with my own passions and interests. It wasn’t easy. Listening to my body and honoring my needs felt unfamiliar—selfish and almost rebellious—after years of being told that everyone else’s needs came first.

I started small, reflecting on what used to make me happy. I remembered my love for painting, reading, and writing—the creative outlets that once filled my heart with excitement and possibility. As I began to make space for those passions again, I realized something powerful: life doesn’t have to be an either-or choice.

I didn’t have to choose between being a great doctor and living a life I loved. I could do both. I could embrace all the parts of myself—not just as a physician, but as a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a creative, curious human being. Some days, that meant prioritizing my own needs over work, striving for a sense of work-life harmony rather than chasing perfection or falling into the trap of people-pleasing. In doing so, I discovered not only the balance I had been searching for but also joy—joy in my life and, surprisingly, joy in medicine again.

Moving Forward with Purpose and Joy

Rediscovering my passions has been a transformative experience. It has allowed me to show up as a fuller, richer version of myself in both my personal life and my professional work. Today, I practice part-time clinically, teach residents, and advocate for my specialty through local, state and national organizations. I’ve also built a business as a physician career and life coach, helping others navigate their own career and life journeys. Most importantly, I get to spend more time with my family, my husband and the ultimate shining light in my life, my daughter.  This balance has given me a renewed sense of purpose and joy – something that I had lost and forgotten for a long time.

As I continue to follow my path towards my North Star, a place where my body, mind, heart and soul align, I began to trust my inner voice again. I listened to my body and instincts, took breaks, and indulged in activities that nourished my soul. I rediscovered the joy of painting, the solace of reading, and the creative outlet of writing. These small steps opened doors I never imagined. Within six months, I was doing things I had only dreamed of—landing paid speaking engagements on topics I’m passionate about, co-authoring a book chapter on residency training during COVID, and finally giving myself permission to dream big.

I used to think these types of things were out of reach for me, but the truth is, they were waiting for me. I just needed to allow the space to let them happen.

And I’m not done yet. I dream of writing a children’s book I can share with my daughter someday, explore creative projects I haven’t even imagined yet, and—if I’m being bold—change the medical system itself. I envision a future where patients have equal access to care, where gender bias are a thing of the past, and where the culture of medicine prioritizes wellness and sustainability over burnout and exhaustion. I dream of a healthcare system that values the humanity of both patients and providers, fostering an environment where compassion and balance are the norm, not the exception. I want to be a disruptor – a force for change in a system that so desperately needs it.  

This is the future I’m working towards—one step at a time.

This journey toward rediscovering my passions hasn’t just made me a better doctor—it’s made me a better person. Remembering who I am, and filling my own cup has brought me back to loving medicine again, in a different more intentional, and powerful way. 

Your Turn to Thrive: What Brings You Joy?

So my question to you is this: What have you left behind that brings you joy?

I invite you to join me on this journey of rediscovery. Reflect on what makes you come alive and create space for it in your life. Prioritize YOU.  Listen to your body, honor your needs, and fulfill them.  Embrace every part of who you are, what you want, and where you want to go. It’s in this wholeness, this space that we occupy, in all our faults, all of our strengths, all of our hopes, dreams, failures and successes – all of our authentic being - that we truly thrive.

This is just the beginning.