The PAUSE
Wise, loving, and inspired writings on the journey of life, love, and medicine
A physician wellness blog with practical tools for burnout recovery, boundaries, mindful leadership, and a life better lived — from Jessie Mahoney, MD.
About the Author: Jessie Mahoney, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician, certified coach, and physician wellness expert with over 20 years of experience as a leader in physician wellness, coaching, and mindful medicine
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In addition to this blog, I publish regularly on KevinMD. These are some of the pieces that have been shared most widely
Who would you be if you stopped always striving and pushing for something different, something better, something more?
What if you stopped worrying that being present, satisfied, and content with where you are might lead to complacency or laziness?
Is it okay to live a 10/10 life?
It means setting an intention to fully enjoy your days.
It means you are present in the moment, noticing how you are feeling, pausing, and acting with mindful intention.
It means making simple, small choices to make each day feel and be the best that it can be for you.
Manage Your Mind To Struggle Less
It’s possible to live more easefully, feeling passionate, engaged, and connected. It's possible to feel more at peace and connected. How? Manage your mind.
“Allowing” Takes Much Less Energy Than Resisting
From a place of love, I used to worry and try to fix and control as much as I could. My doctor-mom fix-it tendencies were well-honed over years of medical training. They also dated back to my childhood- when I was the “responsible” one.
Be Kind To Yourself
In coaching, I encourage clients to think of things they did well and/or are proud of as a daily practice.
Practice being kind to yourself. What you practice grows.
The Most Effective Productivity and Time Management Tools Are NOT What You Think
You do not need a new system to be more productive and efficient. You need rest and recovery, mindfulness and noticing, self-compassion, and kindness. These are the most effective, impactful, and under-utilized time management and productivity tools I know of.
Neurodiverse Marriage: Knowing Changes Everything
Figuring out that my husband was neurodivergent after 22 years of marriage allowed us both to function much better.
Understanding that we were in a neurodiverse relationship helped us get to celebrate 30 years of marriage. The “not knowing” and not understanding our differences caused a lot of hurt, and confusion, and added an extra challenge to an already challenging situation. Knowing about our neurodiversity, led me to grow in ways I didn't know I needed or wanted to. And that growth has been life-changing for me.
No One Knows “The How” Before They Start
No one knows “the how” before they start. We know “how” at the end.
Many of us believe that possibilities are possible for others “but not for me, because ...” When you believe it’s possible to change - it is. Is change easy? No. Neither is stagnation and lack of alignment.
Which discomfort do you prefer?
Subtle is Significant
Understanding that subtle is significant takes the pressure off. It allows you to soften and show up playfully and tenderly with more curiosity, patience, kindness, and nonjudgment. This is the energy where the big significant shifts happen. The tiny shifts also make a huge difference.
Pause and Reflect on How Far You’ve Come
Pausing to reflect enjoy, appreciate, and feel gratitude and satisfaction often propels and inspires you effortlessly towards future growth.
Pearls of Parenthood
Ten “pearls of parenthood” for my son on his 27th birthday, his first as a new dad.
Dance Your Heart
I help you listen to your heart and find the clarity and courage to start letting it dance more.
Sometimes it is shifting something and sometimes it is shifting your thoughts.
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