Medicine, Identity, and Your Future Self: The Physician's Dilemma | Ep15

What if your future self could tell you what matters most right now?In this Insightful episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh invites you to imagine the older, wiser version of yourself—10, 20, or 30 years from now—and consider what they’d thank you for today. Reflecting on his own journey of neglecting health, missing family moments, and feeling stuck, Dr. Hersh shares how medicine’s relentless demands can disconnect you from what truly matters. He offers actionable tools, like the Design Your Life worksheet, to help physicians prioritize health, relationships, and purpose over endless shifts and EMR clicks.From skipping physicals to zoning out on Netflix, Dr. Hersh unpacks the traps of “grit” and offers a roadmap to make small, deliberate choices that align with your values. If you’re a physician wondering if this is “it,” this episode will inspire you to start building a life your future self will celebrate.Design Your Life: A Goal Setting Guide for Physicians: betterphysicianlife.com/design-your-lifeTop 3 Takeaways:Picture Your Future Self: Imagine the older you looking back—what would they thank you for? Prioritizing health, showing up for family, or saying no to extra shifts can shape a life you’re proud of. Dr. Hersh shares missing his daughter’s band concert as a wake-up call to rethink priorities.Small Choices, Big Impact: No change is too small—leaving work on time, scheduling a doctor’s appointment, or calling a friend can shift your trajectory. Dr. Hersh’s Design Your Life worksheet helps you map out what matters in health, relationships, and career.Being Stuck is Feedback, Not Failure: Feeling trapped in medicine signals a need for change, not a personal flaw. Dr. Hersh’s journey from exhaustion to coaching shows how small yeses—like signing up for a coaching program—can lead to a more intentional life.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 Feeling stuck and trying to figure out “What’s Next?” I invite you to download my FREE GUIDE: The 5 Essential Steps Every Physician Needs To Figure Out “What’s Next?”This resource offers practical, actionable steps to help you take back control of your career, set clear goals, and make consistent progress toward the life you genuinely want. 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.