Search
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_b2093fe63ebd48a99b634bfa6bfa8fea~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_b2093fe63ebd48a99b634bfa6bfa8fea~mv2.webp)
![The Deeper Work](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_b2093fe63ebd48a99b634bfa6bfa8fea~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_318,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_b2093fe63ebd48a99b634bfa6bfa8fea~mv2.webp)
- 2 min
The Deeper Work
It is hard for me to believe that this is my final post of 2015, and also the completion of my first full year of blogging. Before I...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_b5e44df7a85744aa8c55c6e0e8bcfeca~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_b5e44df7a85744aa8c55c6e0e8bcfeca~mv2.webp)
![Why I Teach Medical Students About Self Compassion](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_b5e44df7a85744aa8c55c6e0e8bcfeca~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_317,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_b5e44df7a85744aa8c55c6e0e8bcfeca~mv2.webp)
- 4 min
Why I Teach Medical Students About Self Compassion
As part of my work on the volunteer clinical faculty at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, I co-facilitate an elective for first year...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_05cc44b1bc43418895942cb1c237bd10~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_05cc44b1bc43418895942cb1c237bd10~mv2.webp)
![Allowing Imperfection](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_05cc44b1bc43418895942cb1c237bd10~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_318,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_05cc44b1bc43418895942cb1c237bd10~mv2.webp)
- 3 min
Allowing Imperfection
Every morning, right after my meditation, I try to sit down and write a few “morning pages”…these are usually about three pages written...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_5067221d72c24387ade165ae11690d3f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_5067221d72c24387ade165ae11690d3f~mv2.webp)
![Why I Write](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_5067221d72c24387ade165ae11690d3f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_317,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_5067221d72c24387ade165ae11690d3f~mv2.webp)
- 3 min
Why I Write
Why do I write? This is a question that has been asked of me multiple times…and one that I have only recently begun to ask myself. This...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_327702c063744c68bf31146104c55ce9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_327702c063744c68bf31146104c55ce9~mv2.webp)
![Navigating The Holidays After Sudden Loss](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_327702c063744c68bf31146104c55ce9~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_318,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_327702c063744c68bf31146104c55ce9~mv2.webp)
- 5 min
Navigating The Holidays After Sudden Loss
I am so proud to feature my first guest post on the blog today. This is a beautiful and poignant essay written by Ms. Deena Baxter, the...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_cbb89791560c46a4a5ee96c2cd1b5574~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_cbb89791560c46a4a5ee96c2cd1b5574~mv2.webp)
![Saying Thank You](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_cbb89791560c46a4a5ee96c2cd1b5574~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_317,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_cbb89791560c46a4a5ee96c2cd1b5574~mv2.webp)
- 4 min
Saying Thank You
I placed my book on the desk in front of Dr. F, slightly embarrassed. Despite all of my efforts and attempts to become friendly with...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_5dae6d48f43f41bb8334d9696db7ea1e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_5dae6d48f43f41bb8334d9696db7ea1e~mv2.webp)
![A Moment Of Silence](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_5dae6d48f43f41bb8334d9696db7ea1e~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_318,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_5dae6d48f43f41bb8334d9696db7ea1e~mv2.webp)
- 3 min
A Moment Of Silence
As I sit and type these words, my home feels quiet. My daughter and husband have stepped out on an errand, my son is napping in my...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_0cf340ce819e4a40a226bda461b0e809~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_0cf340ce819e4a40a226bda461b0e809~mv2.webp)
![One Thing At A Time](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_0cf340ce819e4a40a226bda461b0e809~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_317,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_0cf340ce819e4a40a226bda461b0e809~mv2.webp)
- 4 min
One Thing At A Time
As I write this, I am sitting at a lovely restaurant on the beach, waiting for a friend to join me for breakfast. Such profound...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_ad13e8078d144f47b2a878f051386022~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_ad13e8078d144f47b2a878f051386022~mv2.webp)
![The Eyes of a Child](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_ad13e8078d144f47b2a878f051386022~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_318,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_ad13e8078d144f47b2a878f051386022~mv2.webp)
- 3 min
The Eyes of a Child
My patient shifted around on the couch, frustrated and upset. She was speaking of a conversation she had recently shared with her...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_01befd0f699e46f6aff36c012179500b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_01befd0f699e46f6aff36c012179500b~mv2.webp)
![Letting In The Light](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_01befd0f699e46f6aff36c012179500b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_317,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_01befd0f699e46f6aff36c012179500b~mv2.webp)
- 3 min
Letting In The Light
I have had several recent patient encounters, where patients have been expressing frustration to me. “I should have gotten this down by...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_5da462d8ae364a0495440ad9497bdf9c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_5da462d8ae364a0495440ad9497bdf9c~mv2.webp)
![Reading On The Stairs](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_5da462d8ae364a0495440ad9497bdf9c~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_318,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_5da462d8ae364a0495440ad9497bdf9c~mv2.webp)
- 4 min
Reading On The Stairs
As I approach the one year anniversary of blogging (next week will be my 52nd weekly post), I marvel at how blogging has changed my life....
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_433860b8858149c3a66fd26d259f9f06~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_433860b8858149c3a66fd26d259f9f06~mv2.webp)
![Discovering Our Truth](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_433860b8858149c3a66fd26d259f9f06~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_317,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_433860b8858149c3a66fd26d259f9f06~mv2.webp)
- 3 min
Discovering Our Truth
“So,” Yvonne asked me, “How is that serving you? How is it serving anyone else?” Yvonne Whitelaw, a dear friend and physician coach, was...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_87233c65aadb4a15a11bfc6ffa8161fe~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_87233c65aadb4a15a11bfc6ffa8161fe~mv2.webp)
![The Nature of Suffering](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_87233c65aadb4a15a11bfc6ffa8161fe~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_318,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_87233c65aadb4a15a11bfc6ffa8161fe~mv2.webp)
- 3 min
The Nature of Suffering
For those of you who regularly follow my blog, I apologize for my absence last week. I had some last minute technical difficulties that...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_ec1a8662a6e04203899794d405be4a6f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_ec1a8662a6e04203899794d405be4a6f~mv2.webp)
![The Need For Rest](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_ec1a8662a6e04203899794d405be4a6f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_317,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_ec1a8662a6e04203899794d405be4a6f~mv2.webp)
- 3 min
The Need For Rest
This weekend, I was hit with a nasty upper respiratory infection. The usual–sore throat, cough, nasal congestion, fever, body aches. I...
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_e83eec2a1634454990e2038bcb095142~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_250,h_250,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_auto/d090bf_e83eec2a1634454990e2038bcb095142~mv2.webp)
![Straight From The Heart](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/d090bf_e83eec2a1634454990e2038bcb095142~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_318,h_238,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_auto/d090bf_e83eec2a1634454990e2038bcb095142~mv2.webp)
- 3 min
Straight From The Heart
A new friend and I were recently sitting together, drinking coffee and getting to know one another. At one point, the topic of my blog...