Happy and Satisfying Life.... what is the KEY?
Mary Rensel 
Women Docs, are you looking for a team to share and build your dreams with? I got you! I am starting an accountability group for the spring, join me
A Happy and Satisfying Life
A goal without a plan is just a wish. – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
I love when impactful studies lead to fun suggestions. Sometimes the results of studies are so positive and doable, it is hard to believe. The Harvard study suggested we get to focus on building positive fun relations with others as this helps us achieve our meaningful goals.
The Harvard study showed that those with healthy positive connections lead a happier and satisfying life.
Salary, time at work, degrees... all of those were NOT the key.
The key was positive healthy relationships.
According to Dr. Waldinger, the Psychiatrist who directs the 75 year Harvard study, it is important that we take these study results and focus on connections to help boost with happiness and health.
He suggest we put our time and energy toward our relationships.
I had a beautiful week full of connections. I had the opportunity to attend the Rare Disease day at Metro Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio and learn from family members, those living with rare diseases, doctors and the researchers. I would think that after more than 30 years in medicine I have heard most parental and patient perspectives yet I learned more and came to understand at a deeper level the journey of patients and caregivers. It helps me remember that health is priceless.
I also had the opportunity to attend the 40 year anniversary of a women physician group at my employer. Wow, how impactful it was to learn of the early days of a few women in the medical and surgical fields. The female surgeons did not have a changing room, they were using a broom closet and had to petition to have a place to change their clothes and so many other stories of pioneers in their fields. I am feeling grateful for where we are today yet we are not “done”, we have not “arrived” until all have equity. Change is a process, like personal hygiene, we need to shower each day, we need to keep going with change.
People can make all the difference, keeping folks around us that support us, challenge us and help us laugh is the key.
The great news is that connecting with others is the key yet keeping connections a priority can be a challenge.
Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness | TED
The 3 lessons that Dr. Waldinger shared from the Harvard research in his TED talk;
1. “Loneliness kills”- when more connected to friends, family and community, they live longer and healthier. 1/5 Americans report they are lonely.
2. The quality of the close relationships matter, conflict is bad for our health. Good warm relationships are protective. Satisfaction of the relationship can buffer us from trials in life.
3. Good relationships protect our brains, a secure attached relationship helped the brain health and cognition in the Harvard study. Good relationships did not mean perfection, it meant that they could count on each other.
He reminded us there are no quick fixes, relationships are messy and not glamorous, it is lifelong, it never ends.
He had tips for us:
More people time, less screen time
Call a friend, go for a walk
- Call that estranged person, build bridges.
- Try a new activity with your partner or friends that build relationships.
- Build “playmates” even as adults, make time to build new friendship
Women Docs, are you ready to make new “playmates” and hit those Spring goals? Brain Fresh is offering a Spring Forward program for Women Docs, 5 weeks of building your vision, a clear plan to move toward that vision and a support system to enhance success towards your dreams. We will be taking time to clarify our values and purpose so that our vision ties in with our values and purpose, if we are not aligned, we typically do not want to take action. We will have a total of 10 virtual sessions to set our weekly plan and to check in and be sure we support each other in our goals and actions. We can dream yet we need to set a support system in place to increase the odds of success in making progress toward our goals. Spring Forward today! There is limited enrollment, join today. 10 Live virtual recorded sessions to clarify your unique values and purpose, set a vision in place and the detailed steps to make it happen. We will walk these steps together. You are not alone. I believe in YOU!
Next steps:
Click here
https://brain-fresh.newzenler.com/courses/brain-fresh-s-doc-side-hustle-acccelerator
Review 10 Live sessions Women Doc Spring Forward Accountability Crew
Purchase 10 Live sessions Spring Forward, watch your email for details!
PS- Limited enrollment, starts 3/16/24, join today. Few spots left.
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Reach out with your questions
Mary
thebrainfresh@gmail.com