Episode 29: When you love your career, but life happens with Dr. Riikka Mohorn

Dr. Riikka Mohorn is a trauma/general surgeon and sudden widow when her husband unexpectedly passed away at 46 years old. Her life was initially all chaos managing her three young children and a general surgery career that she loved. She found help anywhere she could, and although it was difficult, she knew that it had to be possible to manage it all. Over time, she gradually prioritized her life. She loved her career and had what most surgeons have: the “can’t work less” mentality. She learned that she can do a lot of things, but not all things were possible. She had mom guilt that she sometimes overcame, and sometimes didn’t. She discovered coaching and learned that she could pivot her career, work less and live more, although it took her years to overcome the overworking mentality. She trained herself to see the small wins, and not the failures. She became a coach herself, and she is helping others realize they do have options when they have been thinking they don’t, and that it is ok to prioritize yourself and to have hobbies. She and her husband always delayed their plans, and she is encouraging us all to live now. She discovered life is fantastic when you get to do the things you enjoy. That life can be hard, but it can also be fabulous.