You’re Allowed to Change Your Mind | How to Build a Life That Actually Fits You

What if changing your mind isn't failure, but actually a sign that you're paying attention?In this episode of Surgeon, Interrupted, Frances Mei sits down with Rachel Gerber Kule, a communications strategist, entrepreneur, and self-described Renaissance woman who has built a career by repeatedly pivoting toward what fits her better.Rachel shares how she went from wanting to be a news anchor, to realizing that path wasn't right for her, to building a successful career in communications and PR—and eventually launching a new venture supporting people going through IVF and fertility challenges.The conversation goes much deeper than career changes. Frances Mei and Rachel explore what it means to let go of a chapter without feeling ashamed, understand your own values, build confidence, set boundaries, and create a life that actually reflects who you are.They talk about:Why changing direction isn't the same as failingHow to recognize when a path no longer fitsLetting go of shame and unmet expectationsWhy knowing your values makes decision-making easierHow self-confidence gives you the courage to make your own choicesSetting boundaries at work and in relationshipsWhy crying and emotional expression aren't signs of weaknessHow difficult experiences can shape who we becomeLearning to trust yourself when you no longer have someone else to callWhy uncertainty can actually create freedom and possibilityBuilding a life around your own values instead of inherited expectations For physicians especially, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: you don't have to spend your entire life following the path you originally chose. Frances Mei reflects on what it meant to leave clinical surgery and build a portfolio career—and why becoming clear about your values and boundaries is essential to creating a life that feels like your own.Rachel's favorite advice comes from Henry David Thoreau: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.” The question is whether you've taken the time to figure out what those dreams actually are.Host: Frances Mei Hardin, MDGuest: Rachel Gerber KuleConnect with Rachel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelkuleFounder of Pursuit PR, a C-suite communications advisory firm, and Fertilyfe, a community focused on supporting people navigating IVF and fertility challenges.Presented by: The Hippocratic CollectiveFollow Frances Mei on Instagram & Tiktok @francesmeimdAnd subscribe to ⁨@HippocraticCollective⁩ on Youtube for all of the other shows the Hippocratic Collective has to offer.