Rebecca Caldwell, MD
I am a mom. A wife. A doctor. An athlete. A friend. And a life coach. I have it all. Everything I have ever wanted. And yet, after working diligently for over 20 years to create this life, I realized that I wasn't really enjoying it the way I thought I should be.
About
Education and Training
We spend a decade studying, taking exams and honing skills to become Attending physicians. We become experts at delayed gratification and putting everyone else's needs before our own. We have advanced degrees and accolades that we earned by neglecting ourselves as we packed our brains with medical knowledge so we can help others. We learned to pride ourselves for working sleepless nights and denying our bodies their basic needs.
Career of Caring
We arrive at the career of our dreams with adept clinical skills and compassion for others. We are are consummate care givers that often forget to take care of ourselves. We put the health of our patients ahead of our own, and often at the expense of our wellness. We set a bar so high that it is out of our own reach.
Happiness in Health Care
We show up each day hoping to find joy and satisfaction in medicine. We click the EMR buttons, check the boxes, and perform procedures in pursuit of a sense of accomplishment. We search for fulfillment in helping others, but wonder if happiness is possible within our flawed and broken health care systems. We questions ourselves and if we are just not doing it right.
My Story
I am the lucky mom of two spunky redheaded girls and married to another physician. After just over 10 years of working at one of the busiest Labor and Delivery units in the country, teaching medical students and residents daily, and trying to juggle crazy kid schedules, I realized I had no work/life balance. I was exhausted and depleted, and felt like I was at the effect of my own life, which I had sacrificed so much to create. Somewhere along the way, I gave away every "Yes" I had to somebody else, and I had none left for myself. I knew something big had to change. I spent some time considering what that might be. A new schedule? More child care? A new job?
On my quest for self-help answers and a more joyful life, one of my partners introduced me to life coaching. IT COMPLETELY CHANGED MY LIFE. I began by listening to podcasts, and taking a class, but quickly realized how much was changing for me and how I had all of the answers in my own head. I did not need to change careers, get a new husband, or find someone else to care for my children; I simply needed to change my mindset. Coaching taught me how to question the validity of my own beliefs, and I was able to improve every relationship in my life. I took back the power of my own brain. I learned how to say "Yes" to myself and my family, and I now have even more to give to my patients and the residents I teach.
Just Imagine....
- Finding joy in medicine again.
- Feeling in control of your life and decisions.
- Waking up excited because you have the time and energy to enjoy your life AND your job.