Well, it's been a while since my last podcast, but let me explain why, and let's talk about this year and how we can learn from it. We might as well become stronger from this, no? What's the alternative? The people who did well had a different way of looking at this year, but don't get me wrong, not everyone experienced this year equally, but how we make choices affects our outcomes. Life is multidimensional and complicated it’s a platitude that needs more explanation. This episode will be inval...
Dec 19, 2020•13 min
“Think of the Next Person” - Jesse Thistle Jesse Thistle is Métis-Cree, from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He is an assistant professor in Métis Studies at York University in Toronto. He is the author of the National Best Selling Book- From the Ashes. He has won many awards for his academic work including: The Governor General’s Academic Medal in 2016 and Kobo Emerging Writer Award, Indigenous Voices Award, Odessa Award in 2014, Dr. James Wu Prize in 2015 He was voted as one of the 50 Most Influe...
Aug 08, 2020•55 min
The average individual has 50 to 60,000 thoughts a day- some of them are pessimistic, defeatist with self-limiting beliefs about ourselves. We all do this, but there is an easy way to reframe those thoughts. Have you ever thought: “I lack discipline,” “I don’t exercise,” “I procrastinate,” “I have trouble with people’s names,” “I don’t read enough.” “I’m a bad father, mother, friend etc.” Take a quick listen about how to use the word “yet” to live better in all areas of your life. It’s a short p...
Jul 31, 2020•5 min
If you want to change a habit, change your needs structure. Kelly was sobbing inconsolably, the deep heavy cry that occurs when a person can't even catch their breath. I sat down in front of her and waited; the box of tissue was in front of her, and she was already nursing her tears. I tried to remain calm, not knowing what she would say. I had never seen her before and had no clue as to what was happening in her world. My old self would have hoped for a way out, my new self knew a way to help h...
Jul 24, 2020•23 min
If you want to feel better, help yourself or someone else. We've read about celebrities who have committed suicide because they did not feel fulfilled despite having riches, fame and a massive level of variety and excitement. One key reason people get into depressed states or commit suicide is that they don't fulfill their need for growth and contribution. These needs give a person's life meaning and enhance the feeling of joy and realization. We've all experienced these emotions at some level, ...
Jul 17, 2020•23 min
Different people do things for various reasons. Those reasons are not always obvious. Someone may donate money to a local charity because they believe in what they are doing. Another person may give so they look important in others' eyes. Another may see it as good PR for their business, while another gives because their child benefits from that organization’s efforts. Motives vary, but we don’t always think that is the case. This is part two of a four-part series of the six human needs framewor...
Jul 10, 2020•23 min
Understand Your Needs then you'll Understand your Actions Understand Other's Needs then you'll Understand their Behaviours Do you find people are judgmental? Have you ever judged a person and thought, "why do they behave that way?" Have you ever had trouble changing a habit or trying to help another person improve theirs? Understanding the reasons why people do what they do can be challenging. Sometimes we don't even have a clue as to what motivates our own behaviour, let alone theirs. Have you ...
Jul 04, 2020•26 min
Have you ever been lied to or been conned and thought how did that happen to me? Have you ever read events in the news and thought, “how in the world did that person get away with those abuses for so long?” At some time in our lives, we’ve all got the short end of the stick because we missed clues that should have safeguarded us. We didn’t listen to them and trusted the person and then in retrospect, felt annoyed with ourselves. There are good reasons why this happens, and this episode is about ...
Jun 26, 2020•18 min
Well, it's been a while since my last podcast, but let me explain why, and let's talk about this year and how we can learn from it. We might as well become stronger from this experience, no? What's the alternative? The people who did well had a different way of looking at this year, but don't get me wrong, not everyone experienced this year equally, but how we make choices affects our outcomes. Life is multidimensional and complicated it’s a platitude that needs more explanation; and I’ll explai...
Jun 19, 2020•10 min
One of the hardest things to accept is that there are beginnings, and there are endings. This podcast is NOT ending yet, but eventually it will, it’s only natural. However, this episode is about why I continue, why I started, and why I thought about stopping but never did. I share with you how I measured success in this creative endeavor and what success means to me vs. what others think it should mean. I also have an essential idea that I strongly feel everyone should be doing. It’s fun and wil...
Jun 12, 2020•13 min
When I first opened up a medical practice, my secretary was annoyed and visibly angry when people repetitively asked her, “can the doctor speak English” based on the fact that my name was different. I found it amusing, but she didn’t. She hadn’t had a consistent experience of these minor infractions or presumptions that people make. She couldn’t imagine such behaviour. I didn’t need to imagine this as that’s been a consistent experience for me. We can’t imagine other people’s situations to the s...
Jun 05, 2020•10 min
Well, I have wanted to move on to other topics other than COVID -19 because there are so many people talking about it. I, too, have had to accept that returning to other episode topics will have to be reintroduced slowly. I felt this episode needed to be done because there is so much confusion as to what is happening and what will happen. Dr. Varughese emailed me and asked me if I would do an episode on opening up the economy and the anxiety around returning to work. I didn't know what to commen...
May 29, 2020•21 min
So many of us are glad that we've opened up the economy and now we can see some of our old friends. But why are so many of us feeling alone even though we still have access to so many good people virtually (digitally) with a click of a button? We have more entertainment and news at our fingertips too. Oddly, I don't remember solitude being such a struggle growing up in the 1980s and '90s. I think I would have done faired better with some quiet time in that era as opposed to now. Stillness and qu...
May 22, 2020•9 min
In this pandemic, we've experienced a whole range of emotions and right now it appears that people are tired and restless. There also appears to be a lack of empathy or even hate in some people's social media posts or conversations. People seem to be more divided than ever before. One thing that is useful to remember, something I remind myself, is that while we are in this together, we are not experiencing it the same way together. Some people find their home as a new haven for rest while others...
May 15, 2020•7 min
Before Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds connected with Hayley’s campaign (CONQUER COVID-19) to help frontline healthcare workers, she already had left her mark in the world. She is an elite athlete, humanitarian and she’s just getting started. Here are some of her accomplishments: 2019 inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame Has won Seven World Gold Championships Four Olympic Gold medals, One Olympic Silver Medal She was the first female player in the world to notch a point in a men’s professional ho...
May 08, 2020•45 min
So, who is a bit tired of our current state of affairs? Every day seems so similar, and there is a lack of variety in most of our day to day routines. Are you having trouble sleeping, working from home, monitoring your kids, trying to exercise or stop from overeating? Are you feeling guilty that you aren't living up to your potential? You definitely are not alone. I think most of us want to get back to some of our normal activities such as socializing with our friends, playing sports, making sur...
May 01, 2020•21 min
I know many people who don’t laugh, and it made me wonder if there are benefits to laughing. The answer is yes. Here’s a question for you- How often do you laugh in a day, and are you willing to laugh more? I interviewed Canadian Hockey Legend Hayley Wickenheiser (in Feb -that episode hasn’t been released yet because of the pandemic), and she shared with me how it helps her on and off the ice. She truly understands that happy people are successful people; she certainly has had many successes. We...
Apr 24, 2020•10 min
As days turn into weeks, during this pandemic, it may be getting harder to do the right thing, such as staying at home. Eventually all actions come down to the choices we make. Do people sometimes wonder how do individuals, in times of crisis, step up and help? In the medical profession, we do it because it’s necessary, even though it’s not always easy. We all as individuals do this and have that ability to act better. The vast majority of us are stepping up in this crisis, and so much of it is ...
Apr 17, 2020•9 min
There are two reasons people are engaged in the news about COVID-19: firstly, they want to prepare, and second, it's fascinating to see what's happening. It's new, always changing, and has a significant impact on all of our lives. However, it's a constant stimulus which can be draining. This stimulus has a lot of energy that has a contagious effect too, and we have to manage it. Protect our mental and emotional energy. Energy, positive or negative, is a contagion. I'm sure we all feel the stress...
Apr 10, 2020•10 min
As a physician, I'm always careful not to bring home germs, but now i have a whole new protocol given that the Coronavirus/COVID-19 might try to befriend me. So, this episode will teach how to mitigate the risk of bringing germs into your home, especially if you work in a medical setting. We don't want to make our family members sick. For some, it may be a review, but for others, you may have forgotten one small thing, but we've seen what havoc a little thing (COVID-19) can wreak if we are not c...
Apr 03, 2020•6 min
Have we lost something or is this a suspension of life as we know it? This episode is about fear and loss. Right now, many of us are having fears about losing something, whether it’s our health, work, relationship, finances, our routines, watching sporting events, visiting people etc. Loss is a tremendous motivator to take action because a loss or potential loss can be painful. However, there is something we gain in the process if we look closely. We are resilient as human beings, and we can wor...
Mar 27, 2020•13 min
I've created this episode in response to all that is happening regarding the Coronavirus. You’re probably tired about hearing so much about this pandemic, but you know you have to pay attention. So, I want to share with you some key points that I think need to be said (and possibly said already) so that we can plan through this peacefully and successfully. There is so much anxiety, bad behaviour and uncertainty about what's happening. What are the correct things we need to focus on? Some people ...
Mar 16, 2020•17 min
I have a current confession/struggle and it’s that my smartphone is pulling me away from doing what I should be doing. I was hesitant to do this podcast episode, but I felt it was important. I’ve been using two strategies to help me, and they appear to be reasonably successful. I’d be interested if you had any ideas too. This is a short episode and I’ll also share with you my challenge with Netflix and why I can’t watch some of if. Welcome to The Introverted Doctor, the podcast that uncovers myt...
Mar 13, 2020•12 min
After I released the Disgusting Patient Episode (E#31), several people have asked me how does our childhood influence our self-identity and our adult behaviours? This is a very thoughtful and essential question because it's useful to answer that question for one's wellbeing and understanding. It is also incredibly helpful if you are trying to help others, especially in the clinical setting, to change specific patterns of behaviour. I also have a very important self-questionnaire at the end of th...
Mar 06, 2020•19 min
“It’s okay not to succeed. It's okay to fail at something. It's okay to be vulnerable and to talk about those things openly… it’s okay to not be okay” Dr. Ken Milne, who has been honoured with many accolades for his contribution to medical education and helping doctors provide the best evidence care. He is the recipient of the Judith E. Tintinalli Award for Outstanding Contribution in Education from The American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) (remember he's a Canadian Physician) and for ...
Feb 28, 2020•51 min
This podcast episode is about sex. What I say might offend some people, but I feel it's necessary to say anyway. I'll share with you the few reasons I'm doing this, one of them is that a friend of mine had a sexual dilemma, I'll share with you his story and my thoughts. Talking about sex is hard, and it's complicated. There are so many diverse opinions, preferences, religious and moral beliefs, so the conversation can get a bit muddy. For an extrovert it can be hard to bring up for an introvert ...
Feb 21, 2020•18 min
The quality of your life depends on the quality of your relationships and how you continue to nurture those relationships. Today is Valentine's Day, and I don't want to make too big of a deal about it, but I don't want to ignore it either. I have a few unique thoughts centered around the words love, death and regret. Don't worry, it won't be sappy, and it is a quick win podcast, i.e. short. Creating meaningful relationships is not always easy. Staying connected with the people we like or care ab...
Feb 14, 2020•10 min
This is a quick win podcast, ie. a quick listen. I want to thank the many people who contacted me about Episode31- The Disgusting Patient: How our Self-Identity Shapes us. I want to round off that discussion by sharing with you all the four conditioning factors that shape our self-identity. This is something that I’ve shared at the many conferences, and the audiences have found this helpful. The key influencers may seem obvious, but it’s always a good reminder to hear some fundamental truths. Yo...
Feb 07, 2020•10 min
To live a more intentional life, that accentuates our authentic self, takes conscious effort consistently. If we don’t plan our success and align our lives with our true authentic identity, we can end up playing a role that was not cast for us. We end up doing what society has set up for us or fall into a pattern that is out of date. The 4D Prosperity Planner is unique in that it starts by looking at how you can design your destiny by looking at how YOUR goals tie into your identity. Too many pl...
Jan 31, 2020•21 min
What you think you are is what you do. I was going to share with you the 4D planner on this podcast, but I thought this story was more fitting. Oddly, it leads well into the concept of goal setting, which will be the next podcast. In this episode, I’ll share the interaction I had with a patient, the disgusting patient. I won’t say too much more and let you listen to the episode; I’m sure you’ll find it unique. I’m also sharing with you a little bit about myself and how I was a bumbling fool when...
Jan 24, 2020•37 min
