Just because you can, that doesn’t mean you should.
Saying yes to something because people tell us we’d be great at it, because we’re flattered to have the opportunity, or for any other reason that doesn’t align with our own authentic desires, is a recipe for being stuck on the treadmill of achievement.
My recent guest on the Lean Out Podcast experienced the allure of this early on in her medical career. Carissa Stanton, MD is a holistic pediatrician, wellness coach, and author on a mission to help families be whole and well. She is a pediatrician at Mindful Pediatrics KC in the Kansas City area, a health coach primarily serving the mothers of her patients, and author of the book Motherhood Makeover: A Pediatrician’s Guide to Reclaiming an Authentic Mothering Journey.
When Carissa ranked #1 academically in her medical school class, leaders and mentors tried to steer her to pursue competitive, celebrated specialty fields like surgery. Only Carissa had wanted to be a pediatrician since she was nine years old. She got caught on the treadmill of achievement for a while, but she finally departed when she experienced realizations about the path she had chosen and had some health challenges along the way.
Dr. Stanton now owns her own DPC pediatrics practice, which she runs out of a cabin on a 5-acre homestead where she lives with her husband, dogs, and chickens. In her free time, she loves to mentor her adult daughters, do yoga, cook, and garden.
We discuss the cult of busyness and perfection as it applies to both professionals and mothers. We also delve into leading by example, and what it takes to practice discernment and live a simpler life. You’ll love this episode!
Lean Out Podcast: Finances with Disha Spath
