280. From Powerless to Purposeful: Reclaiming Choice and Agency in Medicine

Empowerment isn’t about pretending everything is fine; it’s about remembering that we always can choose our response. Today, Dr. Jessie Mahoney and Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang explore the healing power of choice. We share how we can shift from complaining into creativity and how we can move from victimhood to agency, mindfully. We invite you to stop waiting for permission or for the system to fix itself, and instead to lead with integrity, clarity, and love. While we can’t fix the entire system, we can always choose how we show up within it.   That is where true healing begins. Pearls of Wisdom • Empowerment is not toxic positivity, it’s remembering our response-ability, our ability to choose how we meet what is. • A growth mindset asks, “What now?” even when circumstances feel stuck or unfair. • Boundaries are an act of love, not rebellion. They protect our empathy and preserve our capacity to care. • Micro-agency, tiny acts of intentionality throughout the day, rebuilds trust in ourselves and renews energy. • Shifting from complaining to creativity transforms not just us, but the culture around us.  Reflection Questions Where do we have choice, even if it’s seemingly small? What would it look like to lead with agency today? How can we show up as a lighthouse in healthcare, rather than a rescue raft? If this conversation resonates, I invite you to explore coaching with me to help you name and shift patterns of disempowerment in your life and career: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching You can also join me at a Pause & Presence Retreat. A nurturing, transformational space to reconnect to what matters most: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats If you would like to bring a more mindful, compassionate approach to your institution, team, or training program, I’d be honored to speak or lead a workshop: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking You can also invite Dr. Liang to speak or lead a breathwork workshop for your group: www.awakenbreath.org Together, one mindful choice at a time, we can shift the culture of medicine. *Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

A mindful, honest, and hopeful exploration of victimhood in medicine—what it is, how it shows up, and why so many of us feel trapped, powerless, and unseen within a deeply flawed system. We invite you to listen with curiosity and self-compassion, knowing that if you’ve found yourself here—tired, discouraged, or resigned—you are not alone, and nothing is wrong with you. Rather than shaming or simplifying, we offer this conversation as a compassionate mirror and a naming of what’s real with clarity, awareness, and care.  We unpack moral injury, systemic betrayal, learned helplessness, and the quiet culture of resignation that seeps into even the most well-intentioned among us. Naming where we are is the essential first step to healing. This is part one of a two-part series. In this episode, we shine a mindful light on the roots of victimhood. In part two, we will offer mindful paths forward from powerlessness to purpose.   Pearls of Wisdom: Victimhood is not weakness, it’s a human, protective response to chronic dysfunction. And it’s not where you want to live. Naming victimhood with empathy, not judgment, allows us to reclaim agency, even within a broken system. Noticing where we give away our power is the first mindful step toward healing and change. Systemic “solutions” like suggestion boxes may unintentionally reinforce helplessness unless paired with authentic engagement and choice.   Reflection Questions: When have you felt the most powerless in medicine? What helps you feel safe and what erodes that sense of safety? What would it mean to believe that you still have influence, even in a broken system?     Don’t miss the Mindful Moment at the end of this episode. It's an opportunity to ground, reflect, and reconnect to your inner wisdom with clarity and compassion. If this conversation resonates, I invite you to explore coaching with me to help you name and shift patterns of disempowerment in your life and career: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching You can also join me at a Pause & Presence Retreat—a nurturing, transformational space to reconnect to what matters most: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats If you would like to bring a more mindful, compassionate approach to your institution, team, or training program, I’d be honored to speak or lead a workshop: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking You can also invite Dr. Liang to speak or lead a breathwork workshop for your group: www.awakenbreath.org Together, one mindful conversation at a time, we can shift the culture of medicine. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

What if love doesn’t look like fixing, managing, and controlling?  What if letting go is the most loving thing you could do? Today's episode shares the story of what becomes possible when we choose peace over control.  Our guest is Carol Howe, a school psychologist whom I met through a virtual Women of Dartmouth event in 2023. Her story is a testament to how the tools and wisdom of coaching are helpful well beyond the realm of healthcare. Her story illustrates how the most significant change always comes from within. Carol shares how coaching helped her move from feeling overwhelmed, resentful, and helpless in the wake of family mental health struggles and marital stress, to a place of peace, trust, and presence - without anyone else having to change. Pearls of Wisdom: You don’t have to fix it to love it. Real love doesn't come from fixing, managing, or controlling—it comes from presence, compassion, and acceptance (even when you don’t like something). Be the lighthouse. When others are riding waves of emotion, your steadiness is the greatest gift you can offer. It starts with caring for yourself first. Just like me. This simple phrase softens resentment and reconnects you to the humanity in the people around you, even when they can’t or don’t want to change. Change begins with you. Nothing outside you has to change for you to feel more peaceful and empowered inside. Your story shapes your life. Carol’s powerful insight came when she realized the life she had once written as a “future story” had come true—because of how she chose to think, feel, and show up. Reflection Questions: What might “being the lighthouse” look like in your life today? Where are you stuck in fixing, managing, or controlling? What if letting go created more connection? What story are you telling yourself about your relationships—and what story do you want to tell in the future? Whether you're navigating challenges in your marriage, with your children, or within yourself, coaching offers the kind of compassionate, forward-focused support that can truly change your life—no matter your profession or background. If Carol’s story inspired you or you're feeling stuck, lost, or desperate for change, 1:1 and/or group coaching may be precisely the shift you need. Learn more and sign up for coaching here: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching If you're craving peace, rest, and a beautiful place to begin your own transformation, I warmly invite you to join me on retreat: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats If you’d like to bring this kind of compassionate, healing conversation to your institution, conference, or organization, I would love to come speak to your group. Learn more about my talks and workshops here: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking My co host Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang, also brings mindfulness to the broader healthcare community through breath, presence, and healing workshops. Learn more about her offerings here: www.awakenbreath.org Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

Whether you're in perimenopause, menopause, or postmenopause—or supporting someone who is—this episode is full of gentle truths and nourishing permission to live this season with intention, softness, and spaciousness. Dr. Susan Baumgaertel is a profoundly thoughtful and creative physician who passionately reframes menopause around nourishment, pleasure, and presence at its center. With decades of experience in internal medicine and a unique blend of architectural and artistic insight, Susan offers a menu of supportive, holistic, and empowering approaches for midlife and beyond. Susan shares her own personal and professional pivots, the birth of her book The Menopause Menu, and how she is using her voice and wisdom to help women navigate midlife on their own terms—without overwhelm, shame, or shoulds. Pearls of Wisdom: Menopause can be a time of pleasure, choice, and curiosity—not just a list of things to fix. Think of it as a nourishing multi-course "menu", not a checklist. Small, thoughtful shifts what Susan calls “micro-pivots” and can lead to meaningful transformation. You don’t have to throw it all out to create a new path. Rather than immediately reaching for a solution, take time to pause, reflect, and listen to your body. Sustainable nourishment comes from alignment, not urgency. Food, body image, and health can all be approached with compassion and joy. Sugar can be healing. A walk can be creative. Your body can be art. The system may be broken, but your experience doesn’t have to be. Personal time, presence, and honest conversations with yourself can make a profound difference. Reflection Questions: What would love do for you in menopause? What’s on your personal “menopause menu”? What are you choosing to nourish yourself with? How might you meet yourself with more grace and curiosity in this phase of life? What story are you telling about your body, and what would it feel like to tell a more generous one? If you're seeking deeper support during your own transition into midlife or menopause. I invite you to join me for 1:1 coaching, where you can rediscover ease, purpose, and peace in this next phase of life: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching Or nourish yourself at a restorative, plant-forward retreat with me and like-minded women physicians: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats If you're interested in inviting me or Dr. Susan Bange to speak or lead a workshop for your team, conference, or institution, reach out here: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking You can find Susan and her work including her book, "The Menopause Menu", and her new conversation series “Voices with Vigor” at www.menopausemenu.com. Her refreshing and wise perspective offers a breath of fresh air in today’s noisy menopause space.   More about Dr. Susan Baumgaertel She began her internal medicine practice in 1996, encompassing a wide range of clinical work over the years. In 2021, she stepped away from direct patient care to expand her impact through myMDadvocate, a virtual consultation and advocacy service that serves as a bridge between patients and the often-complex healthcare system. As a physician consultant, healthcare navigator, and medical advocate, she helps people navigate a range of issues, from referral advocacy and chronic condition management to aging gracefully and supporting caregivers through their most challenging moments. Her passion for helping women through life transitions led to the creation of MenopauseMenu, a comprehensive online resource offering evidence-based information and holistic support. This work formed the foundation for her 2023 book, “The Menopause Menu”—an all-in-one guide that transforms medical complexity into accessible wisdom. She has just launched a talk show, Voices With Vigor, showcasing guests from diverse backgrounds who share common threads of curiosity, kindness, dedication, and resilience.  Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.

Parenting doesn’t end when our children turn 18—it simply changes. Parenting young adult children encompasses a full spectrum of emotions such as joy, pride, longing, and grief. It requires a reevaluation of what it means to be a mother. In this heartfelt solo episode, I share truths about parenting grown children, a role that is rarely talked about. I share the joys, grief, and surprising lessons of parenting young adult children. I offer what I hope is grounding wisdom for embracing the ongoing transitions. Whether your kids are in college, starting careers, or building families of their own, this stage is filled with change, growth, and the need for a new kind of connection.  It is a tender, bittersweet season of parenting. A phase that requires a reevaluation of what it means to be a mother. I explore how to stay connected while letting go, how to trust your adult children, and how to show up with curiosity, compassion, and love even as your role shifts from daily involvement to occasional invitations.  Parenting young adults is a long game. Your relationship as adults will last far longer than the childhood years. Curiosity, compassion, trust, and emotional spaciousness are the keys to connection in this season. You can let go while still feeling deeply and accepting change doesn’t mean you stop caring. Reflection Questions: How do you want to show up as a parent in this new chapter? What would love do in your relationship with your young adult child? If you are ready to step more fully into this next chapter of life—whether you are redefining your role as a parent, finding your passions, or learning to let go with love—join me at one of my upcoming retreats at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats.  For coaching support as you navigate these transitions, visit www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching. If you would like to hire me or Dr. Liang to speak or lead a workshop for your team, institution, or conference, please reach out at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking or www.awakenbreath.org. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

What if one introduction could change the entire trajectory of your career or someone else's? This week's episode is an invitation to reflect on the ripple effect of referrals, recommendations, and authentic support, especially among women in medicine. As women in medicine, we haven't always supported one another well.  In honor of Women in Medicine Month, this episode is an encouragement to change that. I share how one beautiful moment of being recommended felt - a sense of deep gratitude, renewed purpose, and the powerful realization that women have the capacity to lift one another in ways that shift not just careers, but culture. Building circles of support can bring  joy, meaning, and positive change into our personal and professional lives.  Whether you're a natural connector or a quiet introvert, listen for practical ways to build deeper relationships, give generously, and receive with grace. Pearls of Wisdom: Referrals and recommendations aren’t promotion, they’re acts of trust, generosity, and cultural change. Supporting another woman in medicine creates ripple effects far beyond what you may see or know. Authentic connections are more impactful than loud visibility. One meaningful recommendation is powerful. Don’t need to amplify everything. Simply share what you genuinely love and believe in. Deep, one-on-one conversations are as powerful and more meaningful than large-scale networking. Reflection Questions: Who is one woman in medicine you could lift up this week through a referral, recommendation, or kind word? How would it feel to give that kind of support freely, with love? What ripple effect might you create by sharing authentically the work of someone you admire? We close this episode with an invitation to become a connector. Even if you're an introvert, even if you're just starting out, one referral, one introduction, or one moment of amplifying someone else's light can change everything for that person - and for you! If this conversation inspires you, consider sharing it with a woman in medicine you admire.  If you’re ready to create deeper, more aligned connections in your own life and career, I’d love to support you with mindful coaching www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching. To retreat with me and step into more aligned leadership and connection, explore upcoming retreats at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats. 2025 retreats are all sold out but I would love to meet you in 2026. To bring conversations like this to your team or institution, connect with Dr. Jessie Mahoney at  www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking or connect with Dr. Liang at www.awakenbreath.org. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

Have you ever stayed in something longer than you knew was right—because it wasn’t terrible, and it seemed like the “responsible” thing to do?  This week, we invite you into a mindful conversation about the powerful concept of graduating and outgrowing roles rather than quitting. What if moving on didn’t mean giving up—but meant you’ve outgrown, evolved, and are ready for what’s next? Listen to learn how to recognize that moment, navigate it with grace, and honor the growth that brought you to this turning point. Whether you're feeling restless in a professional role, a volunteer commitment, or a title that no longer fits, this episode is a gentle reminder that permission to move forward comes from within. Pearls of Wisdom: Graduating is a celebration of growth—quitting is not the only story available. Feeling uninspired, bored, or disconnected might be your inner wisdom inviting you forward. You don’t have to wait until you’re depleted or miserable to make a change. Mindfully leaving can create space for the transformation of yours and others’. Leadership sometimes means stepping aside, making room for new voices and fresh energy. Reflection Questions: What in your life feels like a graduation that’s waiting to happen? If you trusted your body’s wisdom, what might you step away from? What new chapter might be waiting if only you created the space to let it arrive? In this episode, I share a powerful tool I learned from Martha Beck- The Body Compass. This tool, when done well,l can help you release fear-based decision-making. If you're navigating a transition—or even just wondering whether it's time to move on from something that no longer aligns—this episode offers loving guidance and encouragement. If you’re ready to find what’s next, I invite you to explore a mindful coaching partnership with me at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching.  Joining me for a retreat is also a great option. All fall 2025 retreats are sold out, but I would love to meet you in 2026. Now is the time to plan if you want to carve out a transformative space for reflection, healing, and new beginnings: www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats. To bring this conversation to your team, institution, or conference, learn more about speaking opportunities with me at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking, or connect with Dr. Liang at www.awakenbreath.org. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

Whether you're a physician, a parent of young athletes, or someone exploring your own healing journey, this episode is a reminder that healing isn’t always found in a prescription pad, it might be found in motion. Episode Summary: Have you ever felt there had to be more to practicing medicine? That healing could happen beyond prescriptions and procedures? In this powerful and heartwarming episode, we welcome Dr. Amy Valasek, a Presidential Award winning pediatric sports medicine physician, group fitness instructor, and mom of two athletes, as she shares how she integrated movement and joy into her medical practice. Reuniting after 20 years since medical school, host Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang and Dr. Valasek dive into the transformative power of physical activity—for themselves, their patients, and their families. Special Guest: Dr. Amy Valasek is a physician at Nationwide Children's Sports Medicine and an associate professor at The Ohio State University College of Medicine. A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (Class of 2005), she is board-certified in sports medicine, a Les Mills certified instructor, and winner of the 2024 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Community Leadership Award.   🔑 In This Episode, We Explore: Dr. Valasek’s journey from traditional sports medicine to incorporating Les Mills group fitness classes into her clinical care How she overcame resistance and embraced innovation in healing The emotional and psychological benefits of group movement for patients and for Dr. Valasek, herself. Insights for parents of youth athletes and her philosophy on multi-sport participation The healing power of movement for people of all ages from kids to those with chronic illnesses     🏃‍♀️ Movement as Medicine: Dr. Valasek’s approach challenges the status quo of medical practice by bringing patients into fitness spaces and out of purely clinical spaces. From youth athletes to entire communities, her work exemplifies how movement can be a healing modality in and of itself.   🧠 Takeaways for Healers & Listeners: Movement is medicine for mind, body, and spirit Resistance to change is normal and curiosity can lead the way There’s room in medicine for joy, creativity, and connection 🔗 Connect with Dr. Amy Valasek: [email protected]   🌟 Join Our Community: Mindful Healthcare Collective – Join us on Facebook or at mindfulhealthcarecollective.com to explore mindfulness and healing with fellow healthcare professionals Want us to lead or host a healing workshop or retreat? Contact Dr. Ni-Cheng Liang or Dr. Jessie Mahoney to bring wellness to your colleagues. Move beyond consuming this amazing podcast. True change happens when you work with us - virtually and/or in-person. Coach with Jessie - 1:1, in topic-focused small groups, or at a retreat. www.jessiemahoneymd.com Work with both of us in person at The Mindful Healers Annual Retreat www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats Hire one or both of us to speak or lead a workshop on any topic covered in the Mindful Healers Podcast. We also create team retreats, teach yoga, and offer experiential mindfulness for teams, groups, grand rounds, institutions, and conferences. www.jessiemahoneymd.com/mindful-healers-podcast www.awakenbreath.org  www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking *Nothing shared in the Mindful Healers Podcast is medical advice.  

What can gardening teach us about life, medicine, and mindful living?  In this conversation, we explore the parallels between tending plants and tending ourselves. From planting seeds to harvesting fruit, every stage in the garden offers lessons about patience, presence, letting go of control, and trusting the natural rhythm of growth. Whether you’re an experienced gardener, a houseplant enthusiast, or simply plant-curious, you’ll hear insights, humor, and inspiration to deepen your connection to nature—and yourself. Pearls of Wisdom: Begin where you are—growth starts with action, not perfection. The best lessons in patience come from nature’s timeline, not our own. Letting go of control allows room for unexpected beauty and resilience. Pruning and “deadheading” aren’t just for plants—they’re a metaphor for focusing energy on what matters most. Gardens thrive in community, just as we do. Reflection Questions: Where in your life might you create more space and light for growth? What would you prune away to direct energy toward what matters most? How can you honor the seasons and cycles in your own life and work? Take a moment to stay mindful at the end of the episode and practice grounding yourself, just as plants root into the earth. If you’d like to experience mindful presence and community in person, join me for a retreat at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/retreats, explore coaching at https://www.jessiemahoneymd.com/coaching, or learn more about my speaking engagements at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking. Dr. Liang also offers workshops and speaking for healthcare and wellness communities at www.awakenbreath.org. We invite you to share this episode with a friend who loves gardening—or who could use a reminder to slow down and savor the process. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.  

What if smaller wasn’t a limitation, but a superpower?  We explore the countercultural truth that success doesn’t always mean scaling up—it can mean rooting down. Inspired by Bo Burlingham’s book Small Giants, we reflect on companies and people who intentionally choose depth, intimacy, and meaning over sheer size.  We discuss how “great instead of big” has led us to more fulfillment, deeper connection, and increased joy.  You’ll hear our personal stories and be invited to rethink how you measure success—whether that's in medicine, business, or simply being human. Pearls of Wisdom: Fulfillment can be your ultimate measure of success—quality, mastery, and purpose often matter more than numbers or scale. Being “small” can deepen roots, strengthen community, and preserve your values. Intimacy—whether with patients, clients, or community—creates an impact that scale can’t always replicate. You can intentionally design your “company culture,” whether that’s your workplace, your family, or your ecosystem. Choosing less can often give you so much more. Reflection Questions: What would it look like for you to be a “small giant” in your own life? How might you choose quality, intimacy, and depth instead of scale, speed, or more? Where could you deepen your roots instead of stretching yourself thinner? If you’d like to bring this kind of mindful, intentional leadership into your life and work, I invite you to join me for coaching or a retreat at www.jessiemahoneymd.com or learn more about my speaking offerings at www.jessiemahoneymd.com/speaking.  Dr. Liang also offers workshops and speaking engagements at www.awakenbreath.org. We are, proudly, a small giant—-rooted in connection, intimacy, and the belief that depth changes lives. Nothing shared in the Healing Medicine Podcast is medical advice.