Ep 59: Rediscover Fun with Kristin Yates DO

As physicians, we shoulder so much responsibility day in and day out in our profession.

When was the last time we prioritized play? 

🧠 Our education and socialization create left brain hypertrophy.

🧠 Play reconnects us to the right brain.

🧠 Play is a homeostatic event, just like sleep and eating.

🧠 Play helps us become whole human beings and better physicians.

I loved this conversation with Dr. Kristin Yates, OB-GYN, life coach, host of adventure retreats, wife, and mom to 3 daughters. She shares so many gems. Don’t miss this week’s episode on the Dare to Dream Physician Podcast!

Dare to Dream Physician Resources:

Dare to Dream Physician, Life Planning for Physicians

https://daretodreamphysician.com

Dare to Dream Physician on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/daretodreamphysician/

DreamPhysician on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/dreamphysician/

Dr. Kristin Yates DO Resources:

Adventure Retreat
https://www.consciousinmedicine.com/retreat

Website
https://www.kristinyatesdo.com/

Imposter To Unstoppable Podcast
https://www.kristinyatesdo.com/podcast/

Self Coaching Mastery For Women on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/kristinyatesdofacog

Kristin Yates DO on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinyatesdo/

Kristin Yates DO FACOG on Twitter
https://twitter.com/kristinyatesdo

kristinyatesdo on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/kristinyatesdo/

Kristin Yates DO FACOG on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgVo9EZ6g6erhfPc9aTRB_g/videos

Kristin Yates DO FACOG on Pinterest
https://www.pinterest.ph/kristinyatesdo/

Transcript

[00:00:00] Dr. Gray, Host: Welcome back to another episode of the dare to dream physician podcast. I have such a big treat for our listeners today. I can't wait to have this conversation with our guest. Her name is Dr. Kristen Yates. She's a board certified O B GYN physician. Author and life coach, and she is also a podcaster and she hosts the podcast Imposter to Unstoppable, which normalizes the experience of imposter syndrome among physicians and really all humans.

And, she is a co-author of the book, the Chronicles of Women in White Coats Three. And this is a really cool thing that I can't wait to ask her about. She creates adventure retreats that help professional women regain their confidence and find balance through play. Dr. Yates lives in New Hampshire with her husband and three daughters and her dog chia

She loves reading, cooking, laughing, and hiking. Her human design is manifesting generator with a six stash, two profile. I have to ask you about that, cuz I don't know what that is. And, um, she has a bachelor's in biomedical sciences, a bachelor's in psychology and a, of course her medical degree. So welcome. Welcome to the show.

[00:01:15] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Thank you. It's so fun to be here. 

[00:01:17] Dr. Gray, Host: Oh, well,I'm glad this is what you exude and actually, that's why I invited you to come on because I listened to one of your podcast. I've actually listened to many of your podcast episodes. but one of the one that you. Talked about,the right brain versus left brain and how physicians really, like were trained and socialized to just use this one part of the brain.

And this other part of the brain is so important for us to really, when I listen to what you're saying, I thought this is, you know,we need this right brain, development to, to live a fulfilling life. So that's actually what inspired me to ask you to come on.

[00:01:53] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Yeah, that was recently, that's been my favorite thing to talk about. So I'm glad you brought it up because I think, This has always been true, probably that physicians are struggling, but I think over the last two years, it's just become so heightened. And, one way I think that I've experienced myself is to.

Play more and get reconnected with the right hemisphere of the brain, which is the creative side, the presence, the love, the quote unquote woo. Which I really, I that's like my fun to, to look into that kind of stuff. And I think that what I found through my own exploration and now through the retreats that I do in the speaking is that.

It doesn't take much play or fun to reignite the right hemisphere of the brain. And once you do you realize that's actually what should be running the show and the left hemisphere of the brain really should be the kind of the toolbox to tap into, but not the boss. 

 Oh, I love this so much. let's start a little bit before this you shared your story, I'm sure on your podcast before. but I love for you to just give us a little background about who you were, where you always, this, physician who was into play and using the right side

[00:03:03] Dr. Gray, Host: of the brain and creativity and presence, or, was that a more, recent development?

[00:03:08] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Yeah, it's definitely more recent. What's it's so interesting. Looking back now to when I started all the, this whole journey and it really began when I graduated from residency, I became an attending and. On the outside on paper, I really was so lucky. I found my quote unquote dream job. What I thought was my dream job back in my home state, with wonderful partners, a decent schedule for an OB GYN.

And I I expected to feel like I had made it like so many other doctors too. And I didn't feel that way. I felt overwhelmingly burdened by self-doubt and imposter syndrome. And. I don't even think at that time, I really had a name for it until I started like looking up ways to get rid of it and asking my peers and colleagues like I'm.

So I have so much doubt it's really crippling. I would dread being on call because of the doubt I was worried, something would happen and I wouldn't know what to do. And this was despite all external evidence showing me that I was really good at what I do. But none of it mattered. It's I couldn't see it because there was, it's always a stout that I wasn't doing it good enough.

And that journey began. And by happenstance really, I had just delivered my second daughter. And I was looking up like every other time I wanna lose weight ways to lose weight, like weight loss resources. And I had come across coaching, weight loss, like coaching for weight loss at that time. And that's when I was introduced to this coaching as a mechanism for changing your life.

And it was successful for weight loss for me at that time. And then it was like, I had this epiphany that, oh, I could use this same. Tools for myself doubt and helped me to become more confident. So I tried it. I said, what's there to lose. No, one's gonna know no one can see my thoughts. So I tried it.

And then within a few weeks I realized one day I was on call and I was like, I don't feel anxious anymore. Like I was enjoying my job and didn't feel anxious. And ever since then, my life completely changed. And that's when I began to wanna share this message with other physicians, because I knew that if with how full of self doubt I was like, if I could make the transition to being confident, then I knew others could too. So then one thing leads to another. And then I was, on this journey of self development and growth and all of these things that happened when you learn about changing your thoughts. And then I don't know how to play anymore. And it was something that my husband had been telling me for a while in a nice way.

He's like he used to be more fun and he met me when I was a resident, like just starting residency. So it's not like I was that fun then, but certainly there was a shift where I like became a mom and I was just too busy for fun and I didn't have any hobbies. And. I just was ready to reincorporate that.

And then once I did, that's like my next mission now. then I learned about the whole, right brain and left brain and watched the Ted talk by Joe Bolty Taylor. Who's a neuroscientist and has one of the most watched Ted talks of all time. And she wrote a book about this concept basically.

And then I had the opportunity of being on a call with her through a coaching program for physicians that I'm in called empowering women physicians. And I spoke to her directly and this was last summer. and she basically, I said, I have this idea, this crazy idea of doing retreats. And I love this idea.

And she was like, basically said, do every, anything you want? Just make it fun. that was a year ago. And now I have my third one coming up in October. So that's the quick and dirty, I guess.

[00:06:40] Dr. Gray, Host: Wow. That's, so amazing. and I think it's really fascinating that you, you said that your husband who you'd met during residency, so it wasn't like, he met you when you were 18. had noticed even a change from the time you were a resident before kids to the time you became an attending and had kids.

[00:06:57] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Yeah. Yeah. And I think looking back what happened is that I had fully invested in my identity as a doctor above all else. And I think that's what happens for so many of us is that it's like you have to do that in residency. You have to fully embody. Doctor persona in order to make it right, because everyone around you was working really hard and you don't wanna be considered someone who doesn't care about medicine and then it's hard work like you have to study for exams.

And, I think what happened is that an as an attending, I didn't know how to not be that person or was it maybe I, was it professional if I sometimes didn't act like a doctor and I really struggled with that identity, cuz it didn't feel a hundred percent. Authentically me, and I that's, the shift I've made now is I don't identify as a doctor.

I it's a job. I do. It's part of my, it's a way that I can fulfill my purpose, but it's just a fraction of that. It's not my entire being. And I think that shift really made, it made me able to reincorporate this playful side, which is actually really authentically who I am and have always been. I just lost her for a while. 

[00:08:11] Dr. Gray, Host: Oh, I love that. I love that. and you mentioned about trying to meet those professional expectations or, wherever those expectations came from in our head. and do you think also it was the self doubt and the imposter syndrome that also took away the fun.

[00:08:26] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Yeah, a hundred percent, because what happens with imposter syndrome is that we need external validation. it's something that we rely on to feel good about ourselves and to not feel doubtful. So then what happens is that we get into a trap of people pleasing and overworking and. Saying yes to things we don't really wanna do out of fear that other people will think that we're not good enough.

So when that happens, it's like a, it's a slippery slope, right? Because in order to overcome ourself doubt and prove that we're enough to some random person outside of us, we lose sight of what we even really want and what brings us joy. 

[00:09:09] Dr. Gray, Host: Oh, that is such an important shift. I I think that, through the dare to during physician, I do life planning for clients. one of the things we do in life planning is just talk about, what's important to you, what if, you don't have forever to live?

Cuz actually none of us have forever to live, but we live with that assumption, especially the younger, we are even in our middle ages, even if we're 70 years old, that a lot of 70 year olds are walking out. They're, thinking they still have forever to live. And so if we have this more, awareness of the impermanence of life, and then also, that sort of helps us energize towards let's live for, what's really important to us.

And I think it's exactly that shift. Like when we do go through the process of life planning and at least for myself too, when I went through that, I had this humongous shift where all of a sudden. I didn't care about the external validation anymore, because really, if I was in my deathbed, does that really matter?

 none of those people are probably gonna even show up on my deathbed and yet, to start living for the things that I really care about. and that's, I think that somehow that shift and I see it in my clients, as I do life planning on them, I see that shift where they, where all of a sudden they're more internally, more internally focused.

[00:10:18] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Yeah, I think it's such a. Point that you make to bring. And I think so often, especially as doctors where we're so like, you're not supposed to talk about death ever. But when we bring that awareness, which is a fact into our own life, the shifts that it can make are so profound and sometimes they completely rock

rock you. Like I recently have decided to completely uproot my life and I'm changing how I practice medicine and I'm moving to another state and my we're picking up and just trying something new. And it's a decision that I made really connected to the right brain, my right brain. That's this, that's the here and now and the gratitude and the spirituality and connect and the play.

What can I do in order to enjoy medicine more and my life more and my kids more. And I think that those decisions don't ever feel possible if we think we have forever. 

 Yeah. That's so good. I didn't know that you have this, you just made this humongous decision in your life. That's wow. 

[00:11:18] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Yeah. This is within the last month. So things are it's. This shift has begun and I think it was one of those things where I could feel it coming. Like I knew it was coming. I knew that I was kind. ready to, I kind ofpicture it as breaking a layer. Like I was releasing a layer of my identity and stepping more into who I am and what I want and that was really, it still is scary.

It was scary. And cuz it means that maybe I'm not doing quote unquote what I'm supposed to do as a doctor. meaning I'm not a hundred percent medicine all the time, I have a lot of other interests. And, that feels scary when you're surrounded by people who are doctors and nothing else.

which I, don't, think's really, how many of us want to operate, but we don't have enough examples of doing it a different way. So I feel like that's part of my own personal. Purpose here is to just really lean into what is authentically me and live it. And if nothing else, maybe I can be an example to one other person that they can too. 

[00:12:23] Dr. Gray, Host: Yeah, I love that. that's amazing. And so this shift that you made, and it sounds like about a year ago was when you started making this shift to,to really embrace this right hemisphere of your brain. tell me what that feels like.

[00:12:37] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Yeah, it, so I will say that it's certainly a work in progress. like.

everything. I definitely get stuck in my left brain for sure. and Right. now it's a lot of comparison and fear and anxiety. Those are definitely, left brain habits. but being in your right brain and the way I can

explain it, I think makes sense. The most sense in a clinical scenario and why I think it's so useful and actually makes us better doctors, is that when I take the time outside of my career to, paint or. Run or zip line or ride a bike these things I'm very imperfect at, but I'm learning or kick a ball around.

It doesn't really matter what it is, but these things that are purposeless and bring me joy and I spend 10 or 15 minutes a couple times a week doing them. What I'm able to do is practice and get really familiar with how that feels to be in the moment and to be enjoying. The laughter that I hear and enjoy the sweats that, and enjoy the smell of being outside and all of these things that in my day to day life I'd be so quick to overlook.

And I, I practice when I'm playing, cuz it's natural. It's the natural state of play is being in the moment. So then what happens the next day I go to work and I have a patient and I'm in the room with her. And since now I'm more familiar with the right hemisphere of my brain and what it feels like to be there in the exam room.

I use that and I'm in there with her. And I'm present and I'm listening to what she's saying, and I'm watching her body language and I'm feeling what she is feeling, you know, and I'm certainly, I'm an empath. So I feel like that's maybe something that, not everyone empath would understand, but I'm feeling all of that.

And. Then it becomes a richer experience for me as her physician, but also her, because maybe she left feeling more heard because instead of me worrying about my tasks and my patients that I ha that are waiting, or if I'm gonna get an email saying that I got fired instead of being left brain and all of these things, I'm just in there with her and listening.

So that's right. Brain makes you. Better at your job. It doesn't detract from it. And I think that so often when you make the excuse of, oh, I don't have time to play, I need to do this email or send this thing or do whatever, blah, blah, blah, blah. And it, none of that matters. and also it's stealing your ability to be the best physician you can be.

And it's stealing your, and it's so cliche, but it is taking joy from you to not allow that. Part of you to flourish. And I was listening to a podcast by Andrew Huberman. Who's a neuroscientist and he's had, he's such a good podcast called a Huberman lab. And he did an episode all about play. And one of the things he mentions is that play is.

Homeostatic event like sleep and feet and eating, meaning that homeostasis, things that are in homeostasis are required for health. So we know, and we know that from the scientific research, that play is one of those things. If we don't play enough, we are not healthy. We have, we are diseased in some way, whether that's depression or 

we become unbalanced like our psyches. 

[00:16:05] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: and biologically are imbalanced. And I think that for a long time, society has really taken that for granted. So knowing that it's a requirement for our biology and knowing that play is the quickest way to trigger neuroplasticity, every physician should be using this on a regular basis to really tap into those things. 

[00:16:30] Dr. Gray, Host: this is so amazing. and I love that. That you are, going to me, it's like going back in time. Cause as you're describing, just that enjoying play, just like laughing and enjoying the moment and just like feeling the sweat and I'm just thinking of, and you have kids, you have young kids and I have young kids and I'm just thinking of yeah, that's what my kids do naturally.

 and unless I say something to them like, oh, like you're getting your shirt dirty or something. They're just enjoying the moment. and it. Fascinating to watch that it just comes so naturally to them and probably to all of us as physicians at one point, think back to when we were five years old or four, or whenever that age was it was really natural to us too.

.Yeah. exactly right. You're exactly right. That's our natural state of being, and then we go to school and society has a say and play is just for. Kids and we get recess taken away. And then I think it's heightened in medical school where it really, we don't have a choice. Many of us don't have a choice, but to be all in with that.

[00:17:32] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: And I think medical school and residency is where those of us who hung onto ho who hung onto the hobbies. Lose'em because it doesn't seem like we can't have both. So as physicians, I think it's a little bit trickier even because there have been years and sometimes, maybe even decades of our life, that it didn't feel like we could have any reserve.

We had no reserve left to, to dedicate to that kind of 

[00:18:00] Dr. Gray, Host: Yeah. and it just reminds me of, I had a conversation when I was, I think I was. senior year, I was a PO I was a late pre-med student, so I wasn't pre-med until basically I graduated from college and I think I was thinking of pre-med. And then, I had a conversation, like a general conversation with a family friend who was a physician.

 and he had, I think just finished his ophthalmology residency, and then he's oh, you wanna be pre-med? and he's do you have any hobbies? He's yeah, if you do, you're not gonna have any hobbies. he was saying all this, like doom and gloom and I refused to believe it. I was like, oh, no, what are you talking about?

maybe that was your experience and that's not mine, but for me, I had a, my husband and I had a, our first. Baby when I was an intern. And I think that was like medical school was stressful. And I actually don't really remember doing that many hobbies then either. But I think, it's once you then become a parent and, you know, goinggoing through residency, like I think it, I you're right.

[00:18:56] Dr. Gray, Host: Like I was just trying to survive and I wa you know, play was the last thing on my mind. and I think my days did become much less joyful and it was just like, everything was all serious. it was harder enjoy being a parent because, if you see a baby they're laughing all the time or, they're not even laughing, but just, these moments, like it was hard for me to enjoy those moments because I was just trying to think of every logistical thing that needed to be done, the left brain

[00:19:24] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Yeah, very left brain and it, and the only reason that we are there all the time is only because it's a habitual thing for us now. And I think that's the scary thing about making the transition. From, leaning into the, to the right brain more is that the left brain feels so comfortable and therefore we think it's where we belong because it's comfortable.

And that's when I learned that. It's only because it's a habit. Like everything, like you brush your teeth with your right hand or left hand. It feels comfortable if you brush your teeth with your other hand, it doesn't mean that like you're wrong. It doesn't mean that there's something that you're doing something wrong.

It just means that you're not as used to it. It's the same thing with, leaning more into functioning from your right brain. And what that means on a daily basis is. You're able to stay, you know, be present in the moment, feel gratitude and love and, connection. And then the left brain stuff is all there.

All the policies and the procedures and the doses of drugs and all the other crap. you're not gonna forget it, but it's not meant to control your life because if it does. and the reason why so many physicians struggle is because you're using the left brain for all the procedural stuff and the knowledge, but then that's where the comparison and the worry and the fear and the self doubt are too.

So it's like, what I like to call is like left brain hypertrophy. 

[00:20:47] Dr. Gray, Host: Yeah.

[00:20:48] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: like calm the down. They don't need that. You don't need all that. You canenjoy the benefits of the left brain without it being in control. 

that is so key, cuz that was gonna be my next question for you, which is, speak to the fear that most physicians have for. Embracing their right brain, because I think the fear that most physicians have is, then am I gonna become like a flaky person? Or, am I gonna, regress to being a five year old with responsibilities and you spoke exactly to that, which is no, that is still there.

[00:21:17] Dr. Gray, Host: That part of you is still there, but let, let let the right brain also grow.

[00:21:22] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: It's so exactly right. And it's so interesting because, now as an OB GYN, I deal with my fair share of emergencies that usually involve massive hemorrhage or something with a baby and, being right brain. Central, like having choosing right brain dominance in those moments has been such a gift really has been such a gift because what I can appreciate about it is I'm not distracted at all.

By my doubt. It's not, oh no. What are you gonna do? Where are you gonna be able to handle this? It's I'm in there. I'm just there. Totally present with what the patient is going through. What do I need to tell the nurses and the knowledge of how to handle the emergency does not go away. It just naturally comes to my brain and I know what to do, and it's come I'm in completely uninhibited by anything else that's not useful so I really stand very firmly in that.

It's so worth it, because the ability for you to be the best doctor you can be, and also enjoy it lies in leading with your right brain and the ex excuses I hear all the time are, I don't know how to play. What if I do it wrong? I don't know. I don't even know what to, what does that mean? What, I don't know how to have fun.

I don't have time for fun. These are the things I hear. Cuz that was me. It was all the same thing. 

[00:22:38] Dr. Gray, Host: Love it. That's it's all their left brain type of criticisms, 

[00:22:42] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: It is, and 

[00:22:43] Dr. Gray, Host: self-conscious of playing

[00:22:44] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: it's so true. And my first adventure retreat, I did a painting like a, you knew like a paint and sip night, but they have it virtual. So I could it was a video and it was the best thing because it was the first night, which was so perfect. And every, all the doctors were just like, I'm not doing it.

I'm not. And it was just. This is exact good thing. You're here. This is, you're not, there's no right or wrong. You paint a tree, however you wanna paint a tree and it doesn't matter. And I think that, just paint a tree, knowing that you're gonna worry about if it's perfect and do it anyway. another really fun thing to do.

[00:23:16] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: That's easy is on your way to work. You like put on like your favorite nineties song, or I dunno how, depending on wherever, like your back, when you were. Teenager or something, put on a song from that era and just dance in your car on your way to work. That's the easiest thing to do. That's fun. You can't do it wrong and you're totally, you totally get outta your head and you just get into the music and it's,can really change your day. 

[00:23:40] Dr. Gray, Host: Oh, I love your tips, actually. That was gonna be my next question, which you already answered was, give us some tips on how we can grow our right brains, starting today. and so you've already given us a few. Are there others?

[00:23:53] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Another one that helps me, which not always, cuz sometimes I'm super annoyed with my kids, but if I'm feeling like I'm already kind of in a baseline, good mood, I will like really play with my kids or watch them play. like my daughter, my four year old will be like wanna play Barbies with me and I'll like, I could probably only last 10 minutes doing this, but I'll just follow her lead and do whatever she does and not have my phone and just really be present with her.

Or my two year old, almost two year old will like just stand outside and look at a piece of grass for five or 10 minutes, or she'll chase an ant around the driveway. 

Hmm.and let us watch her do that. And with so much awareness, like awe and awareness of. She's just following an and around and that's, so that kind of bring me,to the moment and that kind of, I can drop into gratitude then.

and love. Cause it's so easy if you have kids and then you can really easily drop into love and gratitude in those moments, when you have 'em, which are few and far between maybe if they are for, if you're anything like me, but, that's another tip. And then. Yeah, music is an easy one music getting into music or, even something simple, like riding a bike.

 if you ride a bike like riding around, it always makes me feel like such a kid to ride a bike down a hill and just feel that freedom. 

 these are so good. Thank you. I have a couple more questions for you, but I'm just so curious, since you made this switch, have. Other people notice, cuz your husband made a comment before. you're not as fun anymore, ha have other people in your life noticed or people at work or even your kids.

[00:25:24] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Yeah, my husband certainly has noticed he helped me commit comments. Now I's oh, you're like your goofy self again. and then the people I, I work with have, and this is, for them, it's like one of those things where they see me every day. So it's been a slower transition, but, I think that it became really apparent that they had seen the shift.

When I told everyone that I was leaving and, they were all kind of likewe knew it was coming. we could tell that you were becoming just like,you were just had changed and your priorities were different. And I think that, that's probably, there was their way of telling me, it just doesn't seem like.

You're the same that you were in a good way in a good way. I think. 

[00:26:04] Dr. Gray, Host: Yeah. Yeah. that, that's amazing. And how about your interactions with your kids? it's funny cuz you're like, I could probably only last 10 minutes with them and I think I'm very similar in that way where I just remember I was like, with my kids, like I, I like being with them, but it's always been hard for me to of get into their heads.

But I have these moments where I'm able to now, especially since I've been doing more of the self development work and, and it is really enjoyable, but I would say that it doesn't come naturally to me. And I don't force myself too. So just like you, I'm like I have these low glimpses of, having that experience with them.

but I've noticed that I've since I've started. Valuing like the natural characteristics that kids have of being present and being joyful and being nonjudgmental. And I started, valuing that. So I find myself, not criticizing them like the way that it would maybe reflexively do it before.

[00:26:58] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: so I'm curious, whether you've noticed any difference in your interactions with your daughters. Yeah, I think that, and my kids are young still. My oldest is seven. I have four. And then someone, my, my baby will be two in a few days. And and they're all girls, which I think was a, on purpose, Because I really. I want so much for them to see me. Being me and being what, doing what makes me happy and doing nothing out of obligation. so what that means is that like my four year old has a very interesting style, right? So like she wants to wear a night gown with a crown and like cowgirl boots. And I'm just like, So embracing that, and it's like the little things. So like my seven year old has a very particular way that she wants to do something.

And instead of me worrying about this or that, where I like, I normally would've done oh, like what if so? And so thinks this, or what if blah, blah, blah. It's so I'm just so supportive and present, isn't that beautiful that's what you wanna wear and that's Soma amazing or, I notice my oldest is very much, perfectionist and has a lot of tendencies like me.

So whenever she is being more goofy, I really try to match that and show her that, that's like a safe place to go sometimes. and being goofy and silly and not being perfect all the time is like a fun place to be. And I'll go there with you. That's how I think I've tried to change my interaction to just really embracing them all of them and not trying to, condition them out of any way, even if it's different.

 and another thing that I try to do is really honor what I want and how I want, what I want to do. Similar to what you said is I'm not the kind of mom who wants to play Barbies for hours and hours, like that's just not how I want a parent. And, I'll do it sometimes, but I also really want to be authentic and play with a way that I enjoy, which for me, I really get a lot of enjoyment of being with them and watching them play and I want them to see that I am not doing anything out of people pleasing and that I love them so much, but I also, I'm honoring myself.

[00:29:02] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: So I think that hope, my hope is that's a lesson that they will take and internalize as they get older. 

[00:29:08] Dr. Gray, Host: Mmm. Oh, these are so amazing. you got, you gave us parenting gems too. I love it.

[00:29:16] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: from a very imperfect parent, for sure. 

I know, but those are so good. I it's exactly what I'm trying to work on. And I think I'm not nearly as far along as you are , but it's what I'm trying to work on too. this is so wonderful. tell our listeners, how we can, how they can find you cuz you know, they're, I'm sure as they're listening, they're like, oh, an adventure retreat or, she has a podcast and a book.

[00:29:38] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Yeah, the best place is probably, on Instagram at Kristen Yates do on Instagram. And then my podcast is imposter too unstoppable. As you mentioned. And my adventure retreat I'm the registration is open for October. It's going to be October 21st or the 23rd. in Orlando. And it includes the fun, the adventure.

This time is a V I P the VIP experience at universal studios. That's like the main event with all the other workshops and everything. So registration's open for that. If you want details on that, you can go to, conscious in medicine.com/retreat. 

[00:30:12] Dr. Gray, Host: Awesome. I will definitely put that in the show notes and,for concluding, I'm I'm curious if you just have any word you you've gave so manyamazing pearls and words of wisdom already, but for parting words, If you have any words of wisdom for the listeners of the dare to dream physician, because the goal of my podcast is to help doctors who feel, overwhelmed and busy and, to help them figure out what they really want out of their life.

And then to make that happen as soon as possible.

[00:30:42] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: Yeah. the advice I can offer is to give yourself some space to really feel. What you want, and this is probably something that you do with your life plan. But just give yourselffive or 10 minutes to imagine everything you want bef and do this before your brain gets involved.

 Because there's a moment, there's a sliver of time where you can picture. I want this kind of, I wanna feel this way at work, and I wanna work in this type of environment and write it all down before your brain has a hissy fit about it. And what I can say about that is that what you feel in your body, your intuition is what you're meant for.

[00:31:26] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: And if you have a desire, you have a dream It's there only for you. It's only for you. So really honor that. And it takes so much courage and so much. Conviction in your ability to be okay, no matter what, that it's gonna feel scary and it's all normal and you can, you get do it anyway. And I think that being on a little bit on the other side of this, where sending the email.

About leaving my job was the scariest moment in my life. For many ways, I was committing to this version to this dream. I felt inside my body that, I couldn't deny anymore. And it was terrifying and exhilarating and I would do it again over and over for the sake of my dream.

[00:32:21] Dr. Gray, Host: It's so good. I, this is so amazing and yeah, this is actually what part of what we do in life planning. So you hit it right on the nail. That's exactly. we do. I didn't think about it in terms of right brain and left brain, but we really try to get down to the feelings and try to. So anytime there's like a limiting belief or, kind of anything to squash down that vision, we're like, okay, we'll hold that for later.

And, and this is exactly, the process that, that we do. and I love that you went through that process for yourself and you made this big, scary decision. And I can't wait, this I'm of course I'm gonna be following you. I just, I can't wait to see, where this leads, cuz this is gonna be such an amazing journey coming up.

[00:33:02] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: I'm excited. I'm excited to share it for sure. 

 Well, thank you so much for coming on the podcast. 

[00:33:10] Dr. Kristin Yates, Guest: It was so fun. Thank you.