“What we forget, and what is undertrained in our medical field, is the bottom-up processing of making a decision, where you rely on your body, your emotions, and your interoception to give you information on which of the decisions might feel right for you. That’s the art of medicine that we don’t talk about often,” begins Dr. Lara Salyer. 

In this episode, Dr. Salyer introduces the “Quiet Compass,” a five-second technique designed to help people tap into their inner wisdom when faced with decisions. By blending analytical thinking with intuition, this approach offers a more balanced way to make choices, whether in personal or professional life.

Dr. Salyer highlights a common issue in healthcare—professionals are often trained to prioritize top-down decision-making, relying heavily on logic and analysis. While effective in certain situations, this method can lead to burnout and a disconnect from one’s own well-being. She explains how bottom-up processing—listening to the body’s signals and emotions—can provide clarity and help individuals make decisions that align with their core values and purpose. How often do we pause to check in with what our bodies are telling us before making important choices?

The Quiet Compass technique encourages a mindful pause: taking a breath, releasing doubt, and asking where the path to joy lies. Dr. Salyer emphasizes that regular practice strengthens this intuitive connection, making it easier to navigate life with a clearer sense of direction.

Quotes

• “What we forget, and what is undertrained in our medical field, is the bottom-up processing of making a decision, where you rely on your body, your emotions, and your interoception to give you information on which decisions might feel right for you. That’s the art of medicine that we don’t talk about often. And it’s the art of medicine that not only helps your patient get healthier but also helps you stay aligned with your own purpose, values, and mission.” (01:59 | Dr. Lara Salyer)


• “As healthcare practitioners, we’re trained to ignore these important parts of our sensation, awareness, and experience. We’re taught to think critically, logically analyze, and make decisions based on evidence-based science. But we’re missing the art. The art of medicine is just as important.” (08:16 | Dr. Lara Salyer) 


• “When we go too far down the road of overanalyzing and top-down processes, we end up burned out, stressed out, overworked, and running on emotional fumes. We barely have the bandwidth to participate fully in the work or life masterpiece we’re trying to build. And why did we sign up for a career that leads to burnout? You can peddle back. This is one piece of it—peddling back to reclaim what you deserve, which is to be self-expressive in your own unique healing style that you bring to the exam room, so you can transform patient lives without burning out. That’s what we need, right?” (11:26 | Dr. Lara Salyer)

Links

Archetype Quiz: https://3nb09zv7070.typeform.com/archetype

Connect with Lara: 

Website: https://drlarasalyer.com

The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst

Instagram: @drlarasalyer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer

Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer

TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm