What if the perfectionism that drives your success as a physician is also holding you back?

Dr. Michael Hersh sits down with Dr. Amna Shabbir to unpack the trap of perfectionism. They dive into how medical culture fosters a "favorite flaw" mindset, glorifying flawless performance while fueling burnout, anxiety, and self-criticism. Dr. Shabbir shares her personal journey, from battling postpartum depression to overcoming cultural and professional pressures, to highlight the costs of perfectionism. Together, they offer actionable tools like practicing self-compassion, fostering awareness, and seeking coaching to help physicians move beyond the "all-or-nothing" mindset and rediscover joy in medicine and life.

Top 3 Takeaways:

• Cultivate Self-Compassion: Treat yourself with kindness after setbacks, recognizing that mistakes don’t define your worth, to reduce self-criticism and enhance resilience.
• Embrace Awareness: Practice metacognition by observing your thoughts without judgment, using tools like noting self-critical moments to break the cycle of perfectionism.
• Seek Support: Invest in your well-being through coaching, therapy, or counseling to process unaddressed emotions and navigate the pressures of medicine.

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 Guest:

Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC

Dr. Amna Shabbir is dedicated to empowering high achievers in creating sustainable well-being via professional coaching, speaking, and workshops. She is a dual board-certified Geriatrics and Internal Medicine physician, a Master Certified Life Coach, and a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, trained at Duke Integrative Medicine. As an Ambassador for the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes' Foundation, Dr. Shabbir advocates for the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals. She is the Founder and CEO of the Early Career Physicians Institute® and Amna Shabbir Wellness Coaching, leading initiatives that empower physicians and professionals to thrive.

She also hosts Success Reimagined with Amna Shabbir, MD, a podcast exploring the crossroads of ambition and wellness. Beyond her professional roles, she embraces her most cherished title—Super Mom to two young girls.

Social Media and Website Links:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dr.AmnaShabbir

Podcast: https://dramnashabbir.transistor.fm/episodes

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dr.amnashabbir.md

Website: https://www.dramnashabbir.com/

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

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.

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