Thrive Newsletter Articles
Working with a Professional Coach
Your well-being is determined by many factors, including career satisfaction, life satisfaction, and the myriad of circumstances that define the world you live in. Many of these circumstances are beyond your control, but that belies the fact that much is within your control. The hard part is figuring what you can influence and letting go of the ones you can’t. One of the best ways to do that is by working with a professionally trained coach. Did you know all UTSW-employed faculty have no-cost access to professionally trained coaches? In this article, learn more about coaches and sign up for coaching.
Oh, how time flies! Embracing the Back-to-School Season
As summer winds down and the school year approaches, it's natural for both parents and children to feel a mix of excitement and anxiety. Transitioning from the relaxed pace of summer to the structured routine of school can be challenging. As we prepare for the transitions of our little ones going into grade school or our older ones entering high school or even college for the first time, I encourage you to remain present in the process and take time to enjoy these moments.
The Importance of Summer Self-Care: Balancing Time with Family, Friends, and Yourself
We often think of summer as the perfect time to connect with family and friends, creating memories that will warm our hearts long after the season ends. While these connections are incredibly important, there's another kind of connection that often gets overlooked: the one with ourselves.
Building Bridges, Not Walls: How Emotional Intelligence Fosters Collaboration in Academic Medicine
While top-notch medical knowledge is vital, faculty physicians need more to thrive. Enter emotional intelligence (EQ), a powerful but often overlooked skillset. EQ encompasses self-awareness, empathy, and social skills. Faculty physicians with strong EQ excel in various roles - as educators who connect with students, mentors who provide support, researchers who navigate team dynamics, and administrators who foster positive work environments. The good news? EQ can be developed through self-reflection, active listening, and conflict resolution techniques. By investing in EQ, faculty physicians enhance their well-being, become more effective leaders, and ultimately, unlock their full potential in academic medicine.
Embracing Imperfection: Challenging False Narratives of Perfectionism
In the pursuit of perfection, we often find ourselves caught in a web of unrealistic expectations and self-imposed standards. But what is perfection, and who dictates its criteria? As a therapist, I frequently encounter individuals grappling with the relentless pressure to be flawless in every aspect of their lives.
The Gentle Power of Self-Compassion: Embracing Imperfection with Kindness
Self-compassion is important for our mental and emotional well-being. It allows us to be kind to ourselves, even when we make mistakes. This can help us to learn from our mistakes and grow as people. Self-compassion can also help us to cope with stress and difficult emotions. When we are compassionate towards ourselves, we are less likely to judge ourselves harshly or engage in negative self-talk. This can lead to increased feelings of happiness, self-worth, and resilience.
Presence is the Secret to a Fulfilling Life
What do you want from life? That question includes what do you want from your work, your career, your relationships, indeed your entire world. I am lucky enough to work with many UTSW professionals asking themselves these very questions. As a coach, I meet people where they are and help them get to where they want to go. The tendency for many people is to focus on the second part, where they want to go (i.e., a change they want to create, a situation they want to fix, a goal they want to achieve). This is great, and necessary, but it’s only half the question. Understanding where you are now is essential to finding a way toward where you want to be. Answering that question begins with asking: “What’s here now?” In this month’s blog post I’ll take you through that question.
Authenticity: Embrace your true self
Authenticity - a term that embodies the essence of being true, genuine, and unapologetically yourself. Have you ever walked into a room, a meeting, or engaged in a conversation, feeling like you were truly showing up as your authentic self? Take a moment to reflect on the first time you acknowledged your true self. How did it feel? What did it reveal about you?
Why You Should Ask for Help Even Though It's Scary
Asking for help is often seen as a sign of weakness, but it can actually be a sign of strength. There are many reasons why we might not ask for help, but the most common are that we're afraid of being seen as weak, we're afraid of being told no, or we've been burned in the past by people who offered help but didn't actually help. Yet life is full of things we cannot do alone. Asking for what you need from others is a critical life skill to practice. There are a few key things to keep in mind when asking for help. First, be as specific as possible about what kind of help you need. Second, be open to different types of help. Finally, be accepting and grateful for whatever help you receive, even if it’s indirect.
No One Should Suffer in Silence
Health care workers sometimes encounter moments of shame or discouragement in the wake of difficult patient interactions, unfavorable outcomes, or medical complications. These experiences are common, yet they often leave clinicians and faculty members feeling alone. But there is no need to suffer in silence. UT Southwestern's CALM Peer Support Program can provide a supportive resource for those seeking understanding and connection.
