Dr. Tiffany Moon on Joy Prescriptions: Reclaiming Joy Beyond Achievement
Dr. Tiffany Moon, anesthesiologist, entrepreneur, and author of "Joy Prescriptions," joins me for a candid conversation about the hidden struggles behind external success.
After years of following the traditional achievement pathway elite schools, medical training, career advancement Dr. Moon found herself asking "is this it?" despite checking all the boxes society told her would lead to fulfillment.
In this deeply personal episode, Dr. Moon shares her transformation from a people pleasing perfectionist to someone who prioritizes authentic joy and connection. She opens up about her challenging fertility journey with twins, the systemic barriers she faced as a part-time physician (including being denied promotion solely for working three days a week), and her controversial experience on Real Housewives of Dallas, where she faced racist harassment that ultimately led her to leave the show.
Our conversation explores the unique pressures facing women in medicine, from cultural conditioning around achievement to the impossible myth of "having it all." Dr. Moon discusses her mid-career burnout, how she found creative outlets through entrepreneurship, and why she believes joy must be cultivated from within rather than sought externally.
She also addresses the double edged sword of social media how it can build businesses and connections while also fueling dangerous comparisons and shares practical strategies for maintaining authentic relationships in an increasingly digital world.
Highlights:
The Achievement Paradox: Why following traditional success markers often leaves high achievers feeling empty and unfulfilled.
Systemic Bias in Medicine: Research showing 75% of women physicians delay childbearing, with career penalties for part-time work.
Cultural Conditioning: How Asian American upbringing around being "smart and obedient" creates lifelong people-pleasing patterns.
Reality TV Racism: Dr. Moon's experience with harassment on Real Housewives of Dallas and learning when to walk away.
Mental Health Stigma: The importance of seeking treatment for anxiety and depression, especially in medical culture.
Social Media Strategy: Using platforms for business growth while avoiding the "comparison trap".
Redefining Success: The difference between conditional happiness and sustainable inner Boundary Setting: Practical advice for saying no and valuing your worth as a professional.
