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: mentoring
Showing 4 results:
When Difficult Gets Interesting
I was recently talking with a leader who had navigated a complex, high-stakes situation. We discussed the stress she had experienced. I asked if in the midst of it, she had also felt energized by the challenge. I saw a little twinkle in her eye as she said, “a little.”
And so, no surprise, that g...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Oct 30, 2026
adaptability
adrenaline
appraisal
awareness
capacity
challenge
challenge response
cognitive flexbility
cohesion
collaboration
complexity
confidence
coping
cortisol
crisis
decision making
dhea
discomfort
dopamine
education
emotional intelligence
empowerment
engagement
fight or flight
figureoutable
flexbility
fulfillment
growth
healthcare
leadership
leadership development
learning
medicine
mentoring
mindset
motivation
neuroscience
perception
performance
physiology
pressure
prioritization
problem-solving
psychology
recovery
reflection
reframing
residency
resilience
resourcefulness
satisfaction
strategy
stress
stress management
teaching
teamwork
thriving
uncertainty
Called Up
Not too long ago, I was coaching a resident who had been struggling. Over the course of our work together, we unpacked a lot. On the last session, she said something that I will carry forward from here on out.
When I asked what she was taking away from our coaching, she told me she had remembered...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Oct 16, 2026
accountability
advocacy
behavior
belief
change
coaching
compassion
confidence
development
emotional intelligence
empathy
empowerment
encouragement
expectations
faculty development
feedback
growith mindset
growth
human potential
identity
kindness
leadership
leadership coaching
leadership development
learning
medical education
mentoring
mentorship
mindset
opportunity
patience
personal growth
perspective
possibiity
potential
professional growth
professionalism
psychological safety
reflection
relationships
resident coaching
resilience
self-awareness
self-compassion
servant leadership
strengths
transformation
trust
understanding
The Helper's Fine Line: Story and Reflection
I usually received good grades and positive comments on my report cards as a kid. However, I received one remark from my first-grade teacher that I wasn't sure how to take. She wrote, "Tonya is sometimes too helpful to her neighbors."
Being helpful is good, right?
I mean, Dawn was struggling with...
by Dr. Tonya Caylor —
Jun 12, 2025
autonomy
boundaries
burnout
capacity building
coaching
developmental struggle
discomfort
enablement
expectations
growth
growth mindset
helicoptering
independence
intention
learning
mental muscle
mentoring
modeling
overhelping
pause
rescuing
role clarity
self-efficacy
supportive leadership
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
Joy in Family Medicine – Stories & Reflections