What If Being a “Good Doctor” Didn’t Have to Come at the Expense of Your Well-Being?
For decades, doctors have been celebrated for their strength, unwavering dedication, and seemingly endless reserves of empathy. However, quietly—and at times, not so quietly—physicians globally are posing a crucial question: What if being a “good doctor” didn’t necessitate compromising your own well-being?
This inquiry, particularly pressing for those drawn to lifestyle medicine and holistic care, challenges the deep-rooted customs in medical culture. It’s not merely a theoretical discussion—it represents a transformative rethinking of what it means to be a healer in the modern age.
The Sacrificial Mindset in Medicine
Medical education imparts not only knowledge but also ingrained beliefs about self-worth and devotion. From arduous residencies to round-the-clock shifts, doctors are conditioned to place patient care above everything—even when it jeopardizes their own sleep, health, or emotional stability. Sacrifice isn’t just anticipated—it’s glorified.
In many medical communities, burnout is seen as a badge of honor. Heroism, not mindfulness. Emotional repression, not self-acknowledgment. Innovation is questioned, rest is perceived as a flaw, and alignment with personal values is frequently dismissed as “idealistic.”
Yet beneath this cultural façade lies a quiet longing—a desire for tranquility, meaning, and presence that is too often left unarticulated.
A Subdued Desire for Something Different
Numerous physicians, especially those in fields like lifestyle and integrative medicine, yearn for an alternate way of practicing. One where healing encompasses not just the patient but also the practitioner. One in which care is mutual, purpose-driven, and sustainable.
Dr. Jessie Mahoney, a pediatrician-turned-coach and wellness expert, has frequently heard this desire resonated. Through discussions with doctors exploring lifestyle medicine and her personal experiences, she has discovered that most physicians crave more—but feel trapped. Constrained by expectations, institutional demands, and the fear of straying from the conventional path they trained for years to follow.
Doctors possess a profound longing to feel whole again. To lead from a place of integrity rather than exhaustion. This aspiration isn’t self-serving—it’s vital for the future and growth of the profession.
The Real Issue Isn’t Resilience—It’s Allowance
There’s a prevalent myth that doctors simply need to develop more resilience. However, the deeper issue isn’t a deficiency in grit—it’s the lack of permission to care for oneself. Modern medicine provides little space for doctors to exist as fully human.
Systems have yet to foster authenticity, creativity, or connection. And while clinicians receive training to maintain clinical excellence, they are seldom provided with the resources to navigate their own suffering or cultivate practices that mirror their core values.
The outcome? Burnout, dissatisfaction, and an increasing departure of doctors from the field entirely.
Why Change is So Challenging
Medicine resists change not only on a structural level but also psychologically. Healers are trained to be wary of mistakes, aim for flawless plans, and depend on external validation—even if it contradicts their own truths.
But as Dr. Mahoney highlights, healing and well-being stem from awareness, trust, and sustainable choices. From being present, not perfect.
Through her coaching experiences with numerous physicians, Mahoney has witnessed what unfolds when doctors start to align their personal and professional lives with their inner wisdom.
The 7 Cs of Transformative Growth
For physicians eager to redefine their living and working experiences, Mahoney distills transformation into seven empowering characteristics:
1. Courage – to inquire what you genuinely desire and trust the response, even if it disrupts norms.
2. Creativity – to create what isn’t currently available in the medical field.
3. Calm – to soothe the nervous system and find clarity amidst uncertainty.
4. Compassion – especially for yourself, as a person navigating complexity.
5. Capacity – since nothing enduring can flourish from chronic exhaustion.
6. Commitment – to remain anchored in the life and practice you wish for, even when it’s tough.
7. Community – to receive support and recognition from others on the same path of brave realignment.
From Burnout to Harmony: One Doctor’s Experience
Dr. Mahoney’s own journey commenced with a simple yet significant initiative: teaching yoga on Zoom during the COVID-19 pandemic. It became a source of connection and breath—amidst chaos and turmoil.
Following this, she embraced her coaching qualifications, began collaborating with fellow physicians, and ultimately founded Pause & Presence Coaching & Retreats. She now organizes wellness retreats for physicians, combining lifestyle medicine, mindfulness, coaching, and plant-forward culinary experiences provided by her partner.
Her aim? To demonstrate that reclaiming joy, clarity, and alignment is not a luxury—it constitutes a form of medicine itself.
A Fresh Path Forward
So where does one start?
With a straightforward, profound question