Why is behavior change so hard, even when you know exactly what to do?

In this solo episode, I break down the real reason change feels impossible and why it’s not a failure of willpower. Your brain is wired for efficiency, not growth, and most advice overlooks the early stages where change actually begins.

We explore the science behind habits, the six stages of change, and how shame, perfectionism, and all-or-nothing thinking quietly keep you stuck. I also share my personal journey with breaking perfectionistic patterns and what finally made change sustainable.

You’ll walk away with three simple, evidence-based somatic tools to help you regulate your nervous system, move through resistance, and take action without burnout. We also unpack toxic wellness culture and how to protect yourself from messaging that fuels shame instead of real growth.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why can’t I just do it?” This episode will help you understand why, and show you a better way forward.

Episode Takeaways

• Change happens in stages, not overnight
• What are the Stages of Change
• Most advice fails because it targets the wrong stage
• Your brain prioritizes efficiency, not growth
• Shame blocks change by activating your threat response
• Ambivalence is normal, not a sign of weakness
• Perfectionism leads to avoidance and burnout
• Small, consistent actions outperform intense short bursts
• Self-compassion increases follow-through and resilience
• Somatic tools help regulate your nervous system
• Not all wellness advice is evidence-based or safe

About the Host

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician and TEDx Speaker with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.

Connect with Dr. Shabbir

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/

📹 Watch Dr. Shabbir's TEDx Talk

Perfectionism Has A Solution - It is Not What You Think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIzzM4Vg3s&t=3s

🌍 Want to Book Dr. Shabbir to Speak at your event or organization?

Reach out at: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

✅Want to work 1:1 With Dr. Shabbir?

Schedule Your Complimentary Strategy Session: https://calendly.com/dramnashabbir/strategy

❌ Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

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Healthcare is not perfect. And that is exactly why we need better teams.

In this insightful conversation, Dr. Amna Shabbir speaks with Dr. Tina Patel Gunaldo, DPT, PhD, MHS, architect of high performing interprofessional teams and nationally recognized leader in collaborative healthcare education and practice. Dr. Gunaldo shares how witnessing her best friend's husband navigate a complex medical journey opened her eyes to the reality that healthcare is messy, imperfect, and full of both errors and opportunities. That lived experience sparked her life's work of building systems where clinicians, educators, and communities truly work better together. She breaks down the critical difference between multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional teams, explaining why patient centered care is inherent in interprofessional collaboration. Dr. Gunaldo explores how perfectionism shows up in healthcare teams, why it prevents collaboration, and how being immersed in a team where you actively listen and belong can relieve the pressure to be perfect. She redefines success as finding pleasure in pleasant surprises, giving yourself grace, and leading by sharing knowledge without imposing expectations on others. This conversation is a reminder that healthcare and leadership are journeys, not destinations.

Episode Takeaways:

• The difference between multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional teams and why patient centered care is inherent in interprofessional collaboration
• Why communication is not a soft skill but one of the hardest skills to master in healthcare and teamwork
• How perfectionism prevents collaboration and why immersing yourself in a team where you belong can relieve the pressure to be perfect
• Why healthcare needs systems and structures that support teams instead of creating silos, band aids, and barriers
• How to redefine success by giving yourself grace, finding pleasure in pleasant surprises, and sharing knowledge without imposing expectations on others

About Our Guest — Tina Patel Gunaldo

Tina Patel Gunaldo, DPT, PhD, MHS, is a nationally recognized leader in interprofessional education and collaborative practice. With 30 years of experience across healthcare and academia, she advances health equity and teamwork within health systems. She serves as Co-President of the American Interprofessional Health Collaborative and is the founder of Collaborate for Health, an organization dedicated to integrating team science into education and practice.

Connect with Tina Patel Gunaldo, DPT, PhD, MHS
Follow her on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-patel-gunaldo-phd/

About the Host

Dr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician and TEDx Speaker with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.

Connect with Dr. Shabbir

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/

📹 Watch Dr. Shabbir's TEDx Talk

Perfectionism Has A Solution - It is Not What You Think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIzzM4Vg3s&t=3s

🌍 Want to Book Dr. Shabbir to Speak at your event or organization?

Reach out at: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking

✅Want to work 1:1 With Dr. Shabbir?

Schedule Your Complimentary Strategy Session: https://calendly.com/dramnashabbir/strategy

❌ Disclaimer

This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?

Subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.

Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message.

🎉 Celebrating One Year of Success Reimagined 🎉

Before diving into this week's episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir takes a moment to celebrate a major milestone: the first anniversary of Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD!

Regret is not a flaw. It is data, direction, and wisdom waiting to be unlocked.

In this powerful solo episode, Dr. Amna Shabbir explores the strategic power of regret based on Daniel Pink's groundbreaking research from The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward. Drawing from the American Regret Project and the World Regret Survey, which surveyed over 23,000 people globally, Dr. Shabbir breaks down why 82% of us experience regret regularly and why that is not only normal but essential for growth. She reveals the four core regrets most humans carry: foundation regrets about responsibility and health, boldness regrets about missed opportunities, moral regrets about ethical compromises, and connection regrets about relationships that drifted. Dr. Shabbir then shares a powerful three step framework to transform regret into forward momentum: relive and relieve through self disclosure, practice self compassion instead of self criticism, and create self distancing to analyze and strategize. She also explores the intersection of perfectionism and regret, revealing how maladaptive perfectionism amplifies regret through rumination and self judgment, and offers anticipatory regret as a tool for healthier decision making moving forward.

Episode Takeaways

• Why 82% of Americans experience regret regularly and why that makes us human, not flawed
• How inaction regrets outnumber action regrets nearly two to one and widen with age
• The four core regrets: foundation, boldness, moral, and connection regrets and what they reveal about our values
• Why regret is data, direction, and wisdom, not something to suppress or deny
• The three step framework to harness regret: relive and relieve through self disclosure, self compassion, and self distancing
• Why self compassion is not narcissism and includes mindfulness, shared humanity, and self kindness
• The intersection of perfectionism and regret: how maximizers report higher regret even with better outcomes
• How anticipatory regret can guide healthier behaviors and proactive decision making

📕Book Referenced:

The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward by Daniel H. Pink - https://a.co/d/hbaOFJK

👩‍⚕️ About the Host

Dr. Amna Shabbir is a TEDx Speaker, Top Podcast Host, and Dual Board-Certified Physician with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks and consults on Modern Perfectionism, Behavior change, and the Well-being of High achievers. Her passion lies in helping high performers curate no-BS sustainable well-being at the intersection of ambition and wellness.

Connect with Dr. Shabbir
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/
🌍 Book Her to Speak: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/Speaking
📹 Watch Dr. Shabbir's TEDx Talk
Perfectionism Has A Solution - It is Not What You Think: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNIzzM4Vg3s&t=3s

❌ Disclaimer
This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or therapeutic advice. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of any employer or institution.

❤️ Enjoyed This Episode?

Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast.
Share it with a colleague, peer, or friend who needs this message of resilience and purpose.