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: empowerment
Showing 11 results:
Blindfolds: Story and Reflection
For better or worse (mostly better), I'm partly the result of having an older sister.
When we were kids, she had brilliant ideas for games. One of her favorites? A blindfolded taste test.
She claimed it was all in good fun—but let’s be honest, it was her sneaky way of trying to cure my “ridiculou...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Jun 12, 2025
agency
autonomy
boundaries
childhood
coaching
competence
control
curiosity
empowerment
encouragement
experimentation
growth
humor
individuality
insight
learning
memory
non-judgment
persuasion
playfulness
psychological safety
reflection
relatedness
resilience
resistance
self-discovery
skepticism
support
trial and error
trust
Word of the Year Reflection
Choosing a word of the year provides a simple yet powerful compass that can guide your decisions, actions, and mindset throughout the year. It's like a quick check-in on your purpose statement focused on 2025.
As we step into a new year, take 15 minutes to sit quietly with yourself and reflect. A...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Jun 12, 2025
adaptability
alignment
amalgamation
blending
choice
clarity
coaching
decision making
direction
empowerment
flexibility
focus
guidance
identity
integration
intention
leadership
mentoring
mindfulness
personal growth
purpose
reflection
resilience
roles
self-awareness
strength
transformation
transition
values
word of the year
Reflection: What's Left?
A couple of years ago, at the BE Conference in Scottsdale, speaker and drama researcher, Cy Wakeman demonstrated a tool she called "Edit Your Story" to a room of hundreds of women physicians. She asked for show of hands of who worked with a difficult person on a regular basis. (I snapped the phot...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Jun 11, 2025
agency
boundaries
choice
clarity
cognitive shift
community
compassion
decision making
detachment
drama
editing
emotional intelligence
empowerment
facts
groundedness
interpretation
mindset
narrative
next step
ownership
perception
perspective
reaction
reality
reframing
resilience
self-awareness
self-regulation
story editing
workplace
Performance Reflection
I often talk with residents about what I term "performance mode" and how it negatively impacts us. It's that feeling of playing a persona in order to fit the mold, earn praise, and be accepted.
We are socialized as we progress through premed and medical school to look for the approval of others -...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Jun 11, 2025
alignment
anxiety
authenticity
autonomy
confidence
detachment
empowerment
essence
external approval
feedback
growth
identity
impact
insecurity
integrity
introspection
medical training
mindset
motivation
perception
performance mode
persona
presence
reflection
resilience
self-awareness
self-trust
self-worth
validation
worthiness
The "Right" Tool, Story and Reflection
My husband and I enjoy our annual camping trips across South Central Alaska (Hope being a favorite). We upgraded a couple years ago from the pop-up tent to a trailer. (Yep - we are 'that age' 😉) But we have learned over the years the importance of taking a screen shelter with us - whether for bug...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Jun 10, 2025
adaptability
assumptions
brainstorming
coaching
creativity
curiosity
discomfort
empowerment
experimentation
exploration
flexibility
imagination
improvisation
innovation
insight
limitations
mental agility
metaphor
mindset
obstacles
options
perseverance
perspective
problem solving
reframing
resilience
resourcefulness
self-efficacy
tools
workaround
What's Missing Reflection
You know those times when two clothing items randomly end up next to each other in the laundry, and you see a new outfit? No, just me?
Well, anyway, I had a similar thing happen as three situations juxtaposed together to open up my thinking. The first one involved a couple of group sessions in w...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Jun 10, 2025
automatic thoughts
awareness
bias
circumstance
clarity
coaching
confidence
distortion
empowerment
evidence
facts
filtering
insight
internal dialogue
juxtaposition
mindset
minset shift
narrative
perception
positivity
reflection
reframing
self-perception
self-talk
self-worth
storylines
thought distortions
truth telling
validation
value
Stress Reflection
This week, I invite you to look at a particular stressor you are currently facing, just faced, or anticipate facing.
At first glance, how is it a threat? When you look through this lens of what's at risk? Notice how that feels. For me, I notice an increased intensity in my heartbeat and a little ...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Jun 08, 2025
adaptability
agency
awareness
breath
challenge
clarity
empowerment
mindset
neurobiology
presence
problem-solving
reframe
regulation
resilience
resources
response
shift
stress
threat
Question Reflection
In this week's Joy FM Snippet, I invite you to reflect on the automatic questions you ask yourself on the regular.
Our brains are wired to look for and deliver answers. So if you ask things like, "What is wrong with me?" then your brain will go looking for all the answers. You likely will feel wo...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Jun 08, 2025
adaptation
awareness
change
coaching
compassion
curiosity
empowerment
growth
habits
insight
mindset
neuroscience
optimism
perspective
positivity
questions
reflection
reframing
resilience
self-talk
Annoyance Reflection
In the past couple of weeks, both in a group coaching session and a couple of individual coaching sessions with residents, the topic of strengths came up.
There was an HBR article a while back that points out that many of us overlook our strengths (which are critical to optimizing our impact). In...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Jun 03, 2025
awareness
blindspots
clarity
coaching
development
empowerment
frustration
gratitude
growth
impact
insight
leadership
mindset
perspective
reflection
reframing
self-awareness
strengths
tolerance
understanding
Fall Focus Reflection
"What you focus on expands." (multiple attributions)
I recalled this quote while watching my brilliant friend, Dr. Tricia James, explain how her modification of Stephen Covey's circles of influence and concern applies to us in medicine.
The outer circle applies to all of those things that are ou...
Jun 03, 2025
acceptance
attention
awareness
boundaries
control
emotions
empowerment
energy
focus
growth
influence
intention
leadership
medicine
mindset
perspective
reframing
regulation
resilience
suffering
Growth Reflection
Here's an exercise that I hope you find useful.
Think of either past examples that you would define as your best self. Or think of the self you'd like to aspire to be.
Now, which of your strengths are you exhibiting? What happens internally for you? How does it impact your relationships? What's o...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Jun 03, 2025
abundance
alignment
aspiration
authenticity
awareness
development
empowerment
growth
improvement
intention
mindfulness
motivation
positivity
practice
reflection
relationships
self-compassion
self-talk
strengths
wellbeing
Joy in Family Medicine – Stories & Reflections
