Description

What if your hesitation isn't about ability, but trusting yourself to handle the unknown?

In this episode of the Better Physician Life Podcast, Dr. Michael Hersh dives into the self-confidence gap that keeps high-achieving physicians stuck in the familiar rather than pursuing new roles, boundaries, or pivots. Drawing from his own journey, he distinguishes clinical confidence ("see one, do one, teach one") from self-trust ("I can handle discomfort"), revealing how fear of feelings, like rejection or inexperience, fuels waiting. With practical insights on signaling steadiness, settling rooms as a leader, and navigating transitions, Dr. Hersh equips mid-career doctors to act without full proof, embracing action as evidence. Essential listening for anyone tired of "maybe later" when it comes to what you truly want.

🔗 Free 5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians:  betterphysicianlife.com/commutereset

Top 3 Takeaways:

• Distinguish Confidence from Self-Confidence: Clinical wins build execution skills. Self-confidence is trusting you'll handle discomfort or failure. Dr. Hersh suggests reframing “I’m not ready” to “I can figure this out,” then taking one small, clean action (like stating a preference without qualifiers), to build tolerance over time.
• Signal Steadiness to Lead Without a Title: Self-doubt shows in hedging language ("I'm probably wrong, but..."), teaching others to undervalue you. Swap it for direct statements to ease rooms and foster respect. Practice: In your next meeting or at home, state one decision plainly; notice how it settles energy and invites steadiness from others.
• Train Transitions to Expand Beyond the Familiar: Stuck in mental loops post-shift? Self-trust means leaving unfinished tasks without clinging to control. Start with Dr. Hersh's Commute Reset: Use the 5-minute tool daily to clear your head, proving you can adapt and be present, turning hesitation into momentum for new pursuits.

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

If you find yourself walking through the door still stuck in work mode, check out the5-Minute Commute Reset for Physicians.

Work doesn’t end on its own. This is a short, structured reset you can use on the drive home to shut down work-mode, clear your head, and show up more present for whatever comes next.

You can download it for free at: https://www.betterphysicianlife.com/commute-reset

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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