What if New Year’s resolutions aren't the answer, but goals rooted in your "why" could transform your year?

In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh shares his shift from post-fellowship coasting to purposeful goal-setting. He explores why resolutions fail (no plan, no why), the fear holding us back, and how to set rooted goals with curiosity, systems, and celebration. Perfect for mid-career physicians feeling stuck, this episode offers tools to enjoy the process, navigate obstacles, and build a life beyond brute force—starting now.

🔗 Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-life

Top 3 Takeaways

• Tie Goals to Your "Why": Resolutions fade without a clear purpose. Dr. Hersh explains how a single-sentence "why" (e.g., gym for more energy) makes goals stick. Try journaling one goal with its why this week.
• Embrace Discomfort and Obstacles: Half the journey feels tough, but that's growth. Dr. Hersh urges viewing hurdles as guides, not blocks. Practice by naming one uncomfortable step (e.g., boundary-setting) and taking it. "The hard thing is frequently the right thing."
• Celebrate Small Wins: Track your progress. Dr. Hersh keeps a running tab of the progress he is making toward his goals. Start your own list. Note three small moves toward a goal weekly to build momentum and remind yourself of how far you’ve come.

About the Show:

Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.

About the Host:

Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.

His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.

Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching

📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife

If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.

Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.

You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What if regret isn't truth, but a story stealing your present?

In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh unpacks regret's grip on physicians—from specialty choices to life paths. He reveals how regret is indulgent and impedes progress. Dr. Hersh explores the impact of shifting from “what if?” to "what now?" through reflection, naming gifts, and intentional action. With examples of pivots and physician coaching breakthroughs, this episode empowers doctors to drop the weight, embrace growth, and build futures without romanticizing unchosen paths.

🔗 Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-life

Top 3 Takeaways

• Reframe Regret as a Story: Regret feels urgent but spins wheels. It's rumination, not reflection. Dr. Hersh explains: you made the best decision you could with the information you had at the time. Practice asking "What now?" instead of "What if?" to break the loop and focus on present decisions.
• Name the Gifts in Your Path: Every choice brings unseen benefits, like relationships or resilience. Dr. Hersh shares how a client's medical career regret transformed into a pivot. List three "gifts" from your past decisions this week to shift from loss to gratitude.
• Use Physician Coaching for Momentum: Grinding on our own ignores patterns. Physician coaching helps to provide perspective. Try one small forward step, like journaling, to build accountability and turn regret into growth.

About the Show:

Created for physicians who want more than clinical competence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the pager. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode dives into the questions we didn’t learn to ask in training, offering tools and conversations to help you live and lead with intention.

About the Host:

Dr. Michael Hersh is a full-time practicing gastroenterologist, husband, father, podcaster, and physician coach at Better Physician Life Coaching. He helps physicians rediscover joy and balance by setting meaningful goals, managing stress, and feeling more present at home and less annoyed and frustrated at work.

His mission is to help doctors who feel stuck in medicine create a more fulfilling life that they actually enjoy living. Through coaching and conversation, he empowers physicians to reconnect with their purpose and design a career (and life) they love.

Dr. Hersh is also the creator and host of the Better Physician Life podcast: How to Get Unstuck in Your Medical Career—a show for doctors who feel out of sync or stuck, and want to explore what true success can look like beyond the exam room.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Hersh:
🌐 Website: www.betterphysicianlife.com
🔗 LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michael-hersh-md
📸 Instagram: @betterphysicianlife
📺 YouTube: @betterphysicianlife
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/betterphysicianlifecoaching

📱TikTok: @betterphysicianlife

If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.

Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.

You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

The Better Physician Life Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or professional advice. Always consult qualified professionals regarding your personal or organizational decisions.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.