Why The "Arrival Fallacy" Keeps You Waiting for Happiness That Never Comes with Dr. Sunny Smith Episode 157
Mon Feb 02 2026
Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast!
Happy Women Physician Day! In this special episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Sunny Smith, founder of Empowering Women Physicians, to discuss the unique challenges facing women physicians and the coaching tools that are helping hundreds break free from burnout—without quitting medicine.
If you've ever felt trapped, exhausted, or wondered "when does it get better?"—this conversation is for you.
Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode:
The Arrival Fallacy - Happiness Won't Come Later: The belief that you'll be happy "once you become an attending" or "once the kids are in school" is a fallacy. Happiness isn't found at some future milestone—it requires intentional choices now. The system won't change on its own, and no one is coming to save you.
Agency Over Learned Helplessness: Medicine systematically exposes physicians to situations beyond their control, leading to learned helplessness. The antidote is recognizing you have agency and choice—even small 1% changes compound over time. Start with one closed chart, one boundary, one small decision that shows you can impact your outcome.
Connection Breaks Isolation: You can't understand the mental load of being a physician unless you've been one. Being in community with other women physicians who normalize your struggles and model different choices is therapeutic. When you see others advocating for themselves—taking leave, setting boundaries, pursuing passion projects—it gives you permission to do the same.
Bonus insight: It's not your job's job to make you happy—that's your job. And 77% of physicians entering coaching programs meet burnout criteria, but only 33% do after just 8 weeks, without changing jobs.
Meet Dr. Sunny Smith:
Sunny Smith MD is the Founder and CEO of Empowering Women Physicians.
Dr Smith brings her background as an awarded Medical Educator, and Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health into the coaching space.
She advocates for physician wellness through her comprehensive and collaborative coaching program, podcast, retreats and Facebook group that seek to change the culture of medicine through normalizing and humanizing the experience of being a physician.
Connect with Dr. Sunny Smith:
🌐 Website: https://empoweringwomenphysicians.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomenphysicians
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnysmithmd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnysmithmd/
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Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here
**** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine.
Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca
**** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released. **** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life. **** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.
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Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast! Happy Women Physician Day! In this special episode, Dr. Sarah Smith sits down with Dr. Sunny Smith, founder of Empowering Women Physicians, to discuss the unique challenges facing women physicians and the coaching tools that are helping hundreds break free from burnout—without quitting medicine. If you've ever felt trapped, exhausted, or wondered "when does it get better?"—this conversation is for you. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: The Arrival Fallacy - Happiness Won't Come Later: The belief that you'll be happy "once you become an attending" or "once the kids are in school" is a fallacy. Happiness isn't found at some future milestone—it requires intentional choices now. The system won't change on its own, and no one is coming to save you. Agency Over Learned Helplessness: Medicine systematically exposes physicians to situations beyond their control, leading to learned helplessness. The antidote is recognizing you have agency and choice—even small 1% changes compound over time. Start with one closed chart, one boundary, one small decision that shows you can impact your outcome. Connection Breaks Isolation: You can't understand the mental load of being a physician unless you've been one. Being in community with other women physicians who normalize your struggles and model different choices is therapeutic. When you see others advocating for themselves—taking leave, setting boundaries, pursuing passion projects—it gives you permission to do the same. Bonus insight: It's not your job's job to make you happy—that's your job. And 77% of physicians entering coaching programs meet burnout criteria, but only 33% do after just 8 weeks, without changing jobs. Meet Dr. Sunny Smith: Sunny Smith MD is the Founder and CEO of Empowering Women Physicians. Dr Smith brings her background as an awarded Medical Educator, and Clinical Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health into the coaching space. She advocates for physician wellness through her comprehensive and collaborative coaching program, podcast, retreats and Facebook group that seek to change the culture of medicine through normalizing and humanizing the experience of being a physician. Connect with Dr. Sunny Smith: 🌐 Website: https://empoweringwomenphysicians.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweringwomenphysicians Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnysmithmd/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnysmithmd/ -------------- Would you like to view a transcript of this episode? Click Here **** Charting Champions is a premiere, lifetime access Physician only program that is helping Physicians get home with today's work done. All the proven tools, support and community you need to create time for your life outside of medicine. Learn more at https://www.chartingcoach.ca **** Enjoying this podcast? Please share it with someone who would benefit. Also, don’t forget to hit “follow” so you get all the new episodes as soon as they are released. **** Come hang out with me on Facebook or Instagram. Follow me @chartingcoach to get more practical tools to help you create sustainable clinical medicine in your life. **** Questions? Comments? Want to share how this podcast has helped you? Shoot me an email at admin@reachcareercoaching.ca. I would love to hear from you.