Ever feel like happiness is just one milestone away, only to find the finish line keeps moving?
Dr. Michael Hersh explores the "arrival fallacy." The trap of believing that the next achievement will finally bring fulfillment. Drawing from his own journey, from counting down fellowship days to chasing financial independence, he reveals how this mindset keeps physicians stuck in a cycle of striving. Dr. Hersh shares actionable tools, like redefining success based on personal values, pausing to notice progress, and letting go of comparison, to help doctors find joy and presence in their current lives.

This episode is a guide for physicians ready to stop chasing "what’s next" and start living intentionally today.

Top 3 Takeaways:

• Redefine Success – Shift success from future milestones to daily alignment with your values, like presence with family or meaningful work, to find fulfillment now. Dr. Hersh suggests asking, “If no one was watching, what would I choose?” to clarify what matters most.
• Pause to Notice Progress – Keep a monthly record of achievements, challenges, and lessons to challenge the feeling of “never enough” and celebrate how far you’ve come. A simple Google Doc, as Dr. Hersh uses, can anchor you in gratitude and perspective.
• Let Go of Comparison – Stop measuring your life against others’ highlight reels on social media. Focus on your unique purpose and give yourself permission to want what aligns with your values, not what looks shiny.

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.

What if the discomfort you’re avoiding is the key to the life you want?

Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the transformative power of choosing discomfort intentionally. He reflects on how physicians often trade the discomfort of growth for the familiar unease of staying stuck, whether it’s Sunday night dread or the quiet regret of unfulfilled potential. Dr. Hersh shares personal stories and actionable tools, like naming emotions, embracing vulnerability, and taking small, courageous steps, to help physicians lean into discomfort as a path to purpose, connection, and growth.

This episode is a guide for doctors ready to move beyond the comfort zone and create a life that truly matters.

Top 3 Takeaways:

• Embrace Vulnerability – Recognize discomfort as a signal of growth, not failure, and lean into it to unlock new possibilities. Instead of avoiding fear or uncertainty, see them as indicators that you’re stepping into uncharted territory where transformation happens. For example, Dr. Hersh shares how starting his podcast felt vulnerable but led to meaningful connections. Try embracing vulnerability by sharing an idea at work, asking for feedback, or pursuing a passion project despite the risk of judgment.

Name Your Emotions – Identify and observe feelings like fear, frustration, or shame without rushing to fix or suppress them, building resilience and intentional action. Dr. Hersh explains how noticing physical sensations, like a clenched jaw during a challenging procedure, helps you process emotions constructively. Practice this by pausing when you feel overwhelmed, naming the emotion (e.g., “I’m feeling anxious”), and noting where it shows up in your body to regain control and choose how to respond.

• Take Small Steps – Start with one uncomfortable action, like having a tough conversation or trying something new, to move toward your goals. Dr. Hersh emphasizes that growth comes from small, courageous choices, such as calling his future wife despite the fear of rejection. Identify one action you’ve been avoiding, whether it’s setting a boundary, exploring a new career path, or saying no to an extra shift, and commit to doing it this week, knowing that small steps build momentum toward a more aligned 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

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 stops you from chasing the life or career you truly want?

In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the fear of failure—a quiet but powerful force that keeps physicians stuck. Reflecting on his own hesitations and coaching experiences, he explores how the pressure to succeed, ingrained through years of medical training, can make any misstep feel like a personal flaw.

Dr. Hersh offers actionable tools to break this cycle: reframing failure as a stepping stone, practicing self-compassion to quiet perfectionism, and asking what success truly means to you. With insights on embracing progress over perfection and handling the fear of change, this episode is a guide for physicians ready to move past self-doubt and step boldly toward their goals.

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Reframe Failure – View failure as a data point, not a verdict on your worth. Like Thomas Edison’s 10,000 tries, each attempt is progress toward your goal.
2. Practice Self-Compassion – Speak to yourself with the kindness you’d offer a child or colleague, especially when things don’t go as planned, to build resilience.
3. Define Your Success – Reflect on what success means to you beyond titles or accolades, focusing on personal values like presence or purpose to guide your choices.

About the Show

Created for physicians seeking more than clinical excellence, Better Physician Life is a space for honest reflection, reinvention, and reclaiming purpose beyond the white coat. Hosted by Dr. Michael Hersh, each episode tackles the unspoken challenges of medical life, offering tools and insights to 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

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 the ambition that made you a great physician is now holding you back?

In this episode of Better Physician Life, Dr. Michael Hersh explores the hidden cost of "achievement addiction"—a mindset ingrained in physicians from early education through residency. He reflects on how the relentless pursuit of success, from gold stars to board scores, can morph into a treadmill where happiness fades and the finish line keeps moving.

Dr. Hersh shares personal insights and practical tools to help physicians step off this treadmill. He introduces strategies like redefining success based on personal values, practicing self-compassion to quiet the inner critic, setting firm boundaries, and reconnecting with the original "why" behind choosing medicine. This episode is a candid guide for doctors feeling trapped by constant striving, offering actionable steps to build a life with more presence, purpose, and balance.

Top 3 Takeaways

1. Redefine Success – Reflect on what success means to you beyond titles or metrics, like being present for family or aligning work with personal values, to shift away from external validation.
2. Practice Self-Compassion – Treat yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a colleague, recognizing mistakes as part of growth, not a verdict on your worth.
3. Set Boundaries – Protect your time and energy by saying no to extra tasks, leaving work on time, or disconnecting during family moments to prioritize what truly matters.

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

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.

Can awareness transform your medical practice and personal life? Host Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the deceptively simple concept of “you don’t know what you don’t know” on Better Physician Life. Reflecting on his own shift from coasting on autopilot to embracing intentional awareness, he shares how physicians’ ingrained need to “have all the answers” can create invisible mental ruts.

Drawing on his own experiences, Dr. Hersh introduces practical tools, like the “thought download”—a no-filter brain dump to separate facts from stories—and “habit anchoring,” which ties mindset check-ins to daily routines like showering or bedtime.

He addresses the brain’s negativity bias, offering strategies to pause, question unhelpful thoughts, and celebrate small wins to build resilience. This episode weaves personal storytelling with actionable advice, providing physicians with tools to break free from mental tire tracks, reduce burnout, and rediscover choice in their demanding routines.

1. Practice Thought Downloads – Write down all thoughts without judgment, then separate facts from stories to challenge unhelpful assumptions and gain clarity.
2. Use Habit Anchoring – Tie mindset check-ins to routines (e.g., showering, bedtime) by asking, “What am I thankful for?” or “What went well today?” to build awareness.
3. Celebrate Small Wins – Log three daily successes, even minor ones, to retrain your brain to see beyond problems and foster mental resilience.

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.

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.

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