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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: perception

        Showing 12 results:


        How We Think Shapes What We See: Story and Reflection
        When I mentioned last month that I was heading to Las Vegas to see the Eagles play in the Sphere, more than one person responded with a look of surprise, post-Super Bowl: “You’re going to a football game?” That moment—a simple case of mistaken reference—got me thinking about how our assumptions a...
        by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 12, 2025 alignment assumptions awareness beliefs clarity coaching communication culture development dynamics evaluations expectations feedback frustration growth insight interpretation mindsets modeling perception reflection reframing support trust understanding
        Filtering Voices: Story and Reflection
        Like many medical students, I went back and forth on what specialty I really loved. OB/GYN? Sports Medicine? Internal Medicine? Rheum? Endocrine? Psychiatry? Adolescent Medicine? (Yes, all of them!) I also had a fantastic role model in my dad, an outpatient family doc beloved by his patients. And...
        by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 12, 2025 affirmation belonging choice clarity compassion confidence courage decision making doubt encouragement identity influence insecurity integrity internal guidance judgment medical culture mentorship perception power dynamics purpose reassurance reflection respect self-trust soundtracks validation values voice wisdom
        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
        Twin Perspectives: Story and Reflection
        One day a few of years ago, my husband and I started watching Medici - the historical Netflix series set in medieval Italy. The two main brothers looked so much alike during those first two episodes. I kept getting so confused. After asking Mark for the 6th time which brother was speaking, he fin...
        by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 11, 2025 acceptance adjustment attentiveness awareness balance clarity confusion distortion emotional regulation focus humility insight judgment lens mindfulness mindset narrative overwhelm patience perception perspective presence proportion reframe self-awareness self-reflection storytelling strengths values zooming-out
        Ziplining Snafu: Story and Reflection
        When we explored Alaska with our 13-year-old before our move from Florida 17 years ago, we made sure to make it adventurous for her. We signed up for zip-lining in Ketchikan among the tall Western Hemlocks. I've never been a fan of heights (understatement of the year!), but I was determined. We r...
        by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 10, 2025 action adventure agency behavior choice courage detachment embarassment emotion fear growth identity internalization labeling mindset naming narrative perception personal growth perspective reframing resilience self-awareness self-compassion self-definition self-talk shame transformation validation vulnerability
        "Alaskan Tough" Story and Reflection
        Memorial Day weekend was the best weather we've had in Anchorage in quite some time. My friend, Kari, a lifelong Alaskan, asked if I wanted to hike Bird Ridge which starts at the Bird Creek parking lot, a popular moderate to difficult 5-mile 3400 ft elevation hike. I've never done it, although mo...
        by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 10, 2025 adaptability assumptions attentiveness automaticity awareness clarity confirmation bias correction curiosity expectation humor identity insight interpretation language listening mindset miscommunication mistake narrative observation overconfidence perception preparation presence readiness realization reflection reframing storytelling
        Great Progress Reflection
        What's in a subject line? Specifically an email subject line. No, this isn't a reflection on best email practices. Just the power of words. You know how we often keep a dialog going via email by replying to the original one sent, creating a chain of emails? Well, these past couple of weeks, I hav...
        by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 10, 2025 awareness communication correspondence digital dialogue email emotion energy experiment framing impact influence intention interaction language messaging mindfulness mood naming narrative perception priming reflection resonance response subject line tone tone setting word choice
        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
        Runners Mindset: Story and Reflection
        I took training very seriously for my first 1/2 marathon (the Mayor's half in Anchorage) back in 2016. My friend Lana (wearing the blue tank) was a seasoned runner who thought my schedule was overly structured and intense. She'd run several halves and a few marathons. Still, I insisted, that we s...
        by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 10, 2025 accountability assumptions comparison discipline encouragement endurance frustration half-marathon inspiration intensity intention mindset miscommunication misunderstanding motivation overthinking partnership perception persistence perspective positivity research resilience self-doubt setback stamina structure success support teamwork training
        Worst Case, Story and Reflection
        Early on, as a new physician coach, one of my first group sessions was in a Zoom breakout room with residents during their grand rounds. The main room topic, presented by another physician coach, a surgeon, was Unhealthy Perfectionism, briefly mentioning how our thoughts affect our emotions and a...
        by Dr. Tonya Caylor — Jun 09, 2025 assumptions avoidance awareness coaching curiosity empathy engagement grace insight intent interpretation mindset patience perception presence projection reflection silence uncertainty vulnerability
        Mindful Reflection
        Michael Bungay Stanier reframes mindfulness as a better sense of reality - more situationally aware. He explains it as the ability to sort through data and separate it from our judgments. Currently, in whatever situation you're in - ask yourself the key question he poses: What do I know to be tru...
        by Dr. Tonya Caylor — May 31, 2025 awareness clarity discernment focus insight introspection judgment mindfulness perception presence reality reflection truth

        Joy in Family Medicine – Stories & Reflections

        Lessons, lightbulb moments, and honest reflections from life inside and outside medicine - served with a side of perspective.
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