03/09/2024
For the record, I love to explore all principles that might initially be labeled as 'woo-woo.' I like to tell people that it is rough to freak me out.
I also love facts and a logical progression.
Holding both of these true has probably been the dilemma of my professional career. How do I juggle the fact that I love studies and hard proof but can also lean into non-linear progression of thought?
Interestingly, much of what was entirely “woo” in the 90s when I started medical school has now made its way to more mainstream acceptance. And by my humble estimation (and Dr. Ornish's full admission), many of the principles of what we now call the pillars of lifestyle medicine were based on the ancient theories held in Ayurveda, the traditional healing system of India.
Throughout my 25+ year career, I've noticed the internal tension that doctors, especially intuitive ones, experience when managing information that doesn't entirely mesh with what everyone around them is exploring when the intuitive side starts to rub against the logical explanation.
Frankly, I have observed that most physicians who have been in practice for decades have come to rely deeply on their hunches.
Along the way, I took 3+ years off to study Ayurveda and yoga, including the study of botanicals, plant-centered eating, energetic medicine, breathwork, and yoga, to better understand the intricacies of these practices for myself and clinical applications.
My career has looked quite different from what I thought it would. With the multiple rounds of infections with COVID and the ensuing complications, I have had to explore how I can offer this unique insight and knowledge that I gained in new pathways.
Over the last five years, I have been developing curricula specifically for clinicians who want to explore these principles more deeply and how to launch these practices as a sustainable business.
Omg... I have learned a lot that I never anticipated about marketing and businesses.
As I listened to people share openly in Facebook groups, masterminds, and one-on-one calls, a recurring theme became clear: our unique differences often make empathetic and intuitive clinicians feel isolated and disconnected. In the spirit of deep listening, an idea that had been percolating through all these interactions finally began to emerge.
This week, I launched an online community that includes the tools we, as sensitive clinicians, need to maintain balance, process the energy moving through us, and explore our internal world.
I have learned the hard way about some of the processes that don't work, and now I'm ready to help you find support easily using the techniques I have found to be effective.
Along the entrepreneurial journey, I leaned into my Ayurvedic and lifestyle medicine theories regarding business development and had the insight to apply these principles not to a just individual but to a community of people because, in all fairness, most integrative and lifestyle physicians are mission-driven and predisposed to wanting connection and validation even when it is not inherently there in their work.
I've seen so many of us feel stuck in the reality of conception practices and supervisors who don't understand the notion of patient-centered, very disease-centered care. And we need more than one sound healing or mindfulness session to carry us through these challenges - especially post-pandemic.
We are in the pre-launch or beta phase and looking for founding members who may also want to contribute to the community over time as educators.
We have been listening and designing a community specially oriented to the well-being and career nonentity of physicians in integrative and lifestyle medicine, focusing on creating a place for rest, discovery, and renewal.
The community will be offering the following: What We Offer:
* Seasonally themed Mindfulness Classes
* Expert Coaching: Gain insights and strategies to overcome professional hurdles.
* Plant-Based Meal Planning: Fuel your body and mind for optimal performance.
* Supportive Network: Connect with like-minded professionals who share your values
This integrated approach recognizes that mission-based clinicians need professional and personal development synergized to build a sustainable career.
The link below provides more information about an upcoming fall series. I'd love to hear any questions you have. If you would like a monthly trial membership, message me, and I can send you more information.
