Today we’d like to introduce you to Liz Aguirre.
Hi Liz, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was growing up, I had seen the TV series Rags to Riches. I remember dreaming that one day maybe I would be lucky enough to have a nice house and nice things. Someday I would have running water, electricity, and all the food I could ever want. I also remember the moment that I decided that my life would be different. My children would never have to worry about not having the essentials. I would make sure of it.
I worked very hard. I learned the true meaning of grit. My grades weren’t the best, but I made up for it through my volunteerism and community service. I quickly realized that I wanted to do more, be more, and give more. In college, I changed my major several times before I finally had the courage to dream big.
I decided I would apply to medical school. I was advised not to. Neither my GPA nor my MCAT (medical college admission test) scores were not high enough. I was told that I would never get in and it would be a waste of money to try. The thought of wasting money hurt more than any other negative words I heard.
I did what I always did. I worked hard. I got accepted. I became a doctor.
Fast forward,… I was working hard as a board-certified internist. It wasn’t easy. I worked harder than I ever had before in my life. It will come as no surprise that I went through professional burnout twice along the way, and after 10 years of working in the hospital, I decided to pursue a non-clinical physician career. However, when I went through burnout a 3rd time in my non-clinical job, I was scared. What would happen if I couldn’t work? Would I be poor again? My mind started to imagine the worse.
It was a long journey, but I finally realized the key was quite simple. For once, I needed to put me first. I had always prioritized school, jobs, patients, and family. I started working when I was 9 years old and I simply had nothing left to give.
As I took the time to heal and focus on myself I started to see how miserable others around me were. I wanted to help them and stop the suffering. I decided to take down my wall and use my voice to share my wellness journey to create hope for others. Liz Aguirre MD, LLC was born and soon I found myself on stage speaking at conferences and events. My focus is not on data, research or the typical academic presentations. Instead, I chose to be vulnerable and connect from a place of mutual understanding. I know what it’s like to feel overwhelmed. I know how it feels to hold the false belief that you have no choice. I also know that there are so many opportunities and possibilities for happiness that are waiting for us right now. My mission is to help others learn how to see those possibilities.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I feel like my entire life has been challenging. Life was never easy for me. I was always waiting for the next obstacle.
It took my entire adult life to reach the point where I am today. I married an amazing man who helped me learn how much mindset matters. Instead of waiting for something bad to happen, I’ve learned to open my mind to new possibilities.
I now realize that everything happens just as it should. We either get the result we want or the lesson we need. I’ve also finally learned to focus on enjoying the journey, instead of focusing on the destination.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I continue to work in the medical community using my doctor brain, but I am most proud of how I have recreated myself.
I created a speaking business to share my voice and I now speak at conferences and events. I think what sets me apart is my vulnerability. I used to be scared that others would find out that I did not come from a privileged family and that I wasn’t as smart as everyone else. Now I realize that overcoming these challenges is what sets me apart. I can speak from a place of understanding and sharing my life experiences allows me to connect with audiences at a deeper level. This allows others to see what is possible for themselves.
I’ve also launched a podcast this year called Creating Clarity. The goal of the podcast is to share my personal journey to help others find clarity in their own lives. I share personal challenges and how I overcame them. When we see successful people, we often automatically assume that they have something special that we don’t have. This subconscious way of thinking is what holds us back and it is simply not true. I am a doctor but if you had seen me as a child, many would assume that this would not be possible for me.
I also speak a lot about mindset, self-care, and general wellness. I spent years of neglecting myself and have come to realize the “work harder” approach is not the only way. I’m realizing that I have a lot more to offer, but I can only tap into that part of me by taking care of myself. When we prioritize ourselves, this is when the creativity and ideas within us really begin to blossom. It’s time for all of us to say “me first”. It’s not selfish. It’s about becoming the best version of yourself which ultimately allows you to give even more.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I believe that taking risks is the only way we can grow.
The interesting thing is that when I was younger I took more risks. I suppose this was because I felt like I didn’t have anything to lose. I would dream of the possibilities and then went for them.
As I got older, I became more fearful of failure and therefore more risk-averse. I was trapped in unhappiness because I was too scared to take the risk. What if the next job wasn’t any better? What if I never find a guy who loves me? What if people don’t like what I say? If we never take the risks, then we’ll never know what we’re capable of. Sure, taking risks comes with failure. The path to success is never straight up but I choose to look at it as failing forward. You learn as you go, and you become better equipped to handle each subsequent struggle.
Contact Info:
- Email: contact@LizAguirreMD.com
- Website: www.LizAguirreMD.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lizaguirremd/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizAguirreMD/
