Joy in Family Medicine – Stories & Reflections
Lessons, lightbulb moments, and honest reflections from life inside and outside medicine - served with a side of perspective.
Tags: contentment
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John and the Honeymoon Effect
Last week I introduced you to John, a fictional physician whose story reflects common themes many physicians wrestle with. He’s a mid-career family physician wrestling with a career dilemma I hear very frequently: “I’ve never stayed in one job more than x number of years. I feel I need to leave m...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
May 17, 2026
adaptation
awareness
balance
burnout
career
career change
clarity
coaching
cognition
compassion
contentment
curiosity
decision making
development
feedback
fulfillment
growth
healthcare
identity
insight
intentionality
leadership
learning
medicine
mindset
motivation
negativity bias
patterns
perspective
physician
psychology
purpose
reflection
relationships
resilience
self-assessment
self-awareness
systems
transitions
wellbeing
John's Decision
A common theme I hear from physicians is this:
“I’ve lost confidence in my ability to pick a good job because I’m looking to leave…again.”
And honestly, healthcare is different than it was decades ago when physicians often stayed in one practice for 30–40 years. Expectations, systems, autonomy, c...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
May 14, 2026
adaptation
autonomy
balance
burnout
career
career change
change
clarity
coaching
cognition
comparison
confidence
contentment
decision making
despair
fulfillment
growth
healthcare
insight
intention
job search
leadership
medicine
mindset
motivation
negativity bias
perspective
physician
psychology
purpose
reflection
resilience
self-awareness
shame
stress
systems
thought work
transition
values
wellbeing
Joy in Family Medicine – Stories & Reflections