Physician Career Pivot: Moving Toward, Not Away
I’ve suddenly gotten a lot of questions about my career pivot.
How could I make a change away from something with so many benefits—benefits for me and for others?
Why would I do that?
What was wrong with it?
It was not an easy decision.
Pursuing dreams is rarely the easier path.
I chose the full-spectrum path: high highs, low lows, and the kind of growth you can’t predict from the start.
It wasn’t a “run away” decision
I chose this new path not to run away from anything.
Not to leave something bad.
You can leave something you’re good at.
Even great at.
Even when it is good.
You can want something different for your life.
A relationship with a role, a career, or an identity can be complete.
That isn’t failure.
It isn’t weakness.
It’s strength.
I pivoted toward something
I pivoted not to move away from something… but to move toward something.
Toward helping more people pause and be present.
Toward supporting physicians and high achievers in building a life that feels better lived.
More calm.
More ease.
More connection.
More love.
More clarity.
More purpose.
We are all on different paths to different dreams at different times.
I shifted course with mindfulness and intention because the pull to create, innovate, and contribute in a different way was strong.
Questions that helped me decide
These are a few questions I used—questions I still return to:
What will the world miss out on if you don’t do what you were meant to do?
What would love do?
What would your 70-year-old self tell you to do?
If both decisions turned out great, which one would you wish you had made?
These were tools.
And so was coaching.
Because we each only get one wild and precious life.
Life is a journey—and it’s meant to be lived fully.
It looks different for each of us.
No path is better or worse.
There is a cost to leaving, and there is a cost to staying.
The truth about big decisions
It took tremendous courage to make a change.
Big decisions are rarely without fear.
Or uncertainty.
And what’s certain on all paths is… uncertainty.
What’s in our control is making our chosen path the right one.
Having our own back.
And embracing the whole experience.
Change is scary and hard and good and bad and exciting.
And sometimes, making a change isn't the right path.
Sometimes staying exactly where you are is where you need to be.
The work is to listen to the cues and do what feels authentically right for you in this season.
If you’re feeling stuck, coaching helps
If you’re struggling with a decision, I hope this helps.
Two weeks ago, I led a coaching session on when to change your thoughts vs. when to make a change. You can find the recording on my website under the Mindful Coaching tab. (link it here if you want)
Coaching helped me learn to listen to the cues, connect with my values, and find alignment in this season of my life.
It can help you, too—especially if you’re feeling stuck, craving change, unsure what you want, or ready to stop white-knuckling your way through your days.
Learn more about working together 1:1 here: physician coaching.
If you’re in a pivot season and want a clearer roadmap, explore: Transition Well