Dream Big, Then Get Practical

May 6, 2022 | Identity, Thriving

It is so easy to lose sight of your dreams. Remember the passion that once kindled your interest in your field, or a particular hobby, or in mastering a sport or skill?

For me, and for many of the physicians I’ve worked with, it’s not so much about forgetting a dream as never having taken the time, or given ourselves the permission, to investigate what we really, truly want in our lives. Why? We were too busy, already on the train with a named destination, blinded by the messages about what we “should” do.

If I’d given myself the permission to dream earlier, I believe I would have fought harder to keep creativity in my life during training and while practicing. I would have recognized the importance of regular doses of art and creative writing and dance to my full functioning as a person who’s a physician.

How about you? What is your heart calling for? What desire for more or different is not being fed right now?

To begin honoring your dreams: get to know what they are. Try this writing exercise.

Give yourself permission to think big and outside the box. Don’t worry about being practical right now.

What is a dream you have for your life?

If you had a magic wand and complete power, what would your life look like in 6 months? A year? 5 years?

Let yourself dream big, then jot down some notes. 

How could you fit a piece of this dream into your life now? What steps could you take to make your dream a reality? I promise that when you tap into the energy of that passion, you’ll be unstoppable.

If you’d like some help dreaming bigger, let’s talk!           

Photo credit: Jaime Creixems on Unsplash

[ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ]

Diane W. Shannon

MD, MPH, ACC

Diane Shannon is an award-winning writer, author, and coach. Since leaving practice as a primary care physician due to burnout, she has worked to support physicians in achieving their personal and professional goals and to highlight the changes needed to reduce burnout, improve career satisfaction, and protect the bidirectional healing power of the patient-physician relationship.

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The Challenges Women Physicians Face: What’s Needed to Shift from Striving to Thriving.

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Diane W. Shannon, MD, MPH, PCC

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