Lead with Levity

Ep. 116 Uncovering the Secrets to Living Your Best Life

In this episode of the Lead with Levity podcast, host Dr. Heather Walker interviews Dr. Kharazi, a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon and founder of the Heart of Motivation Consulting Practice. Dr. Kharazi shares insights on how to thrive in high-risk, high-stress careers, drawing from her experiences in the medical field and her passion for skydiving. Discover the importance of mindset and self-care in managing stress and making informed decisions. 

Whether you’re in the healthcare industry or any other profession, this episode offers valuable lessons for navigating stress in your daily life. Tune in and gain inspiration for living your best life. Don’t forget to check out the show notes for links and resources mentioned in the episode.

Here are three key takeaways from our conversation with Dr. Kharazi:

1️⃣ Mindset is everything –  Dr. Kharazi emphasized the importance of mindset in navigating high-stress careers. Whether you’re a healthcare professional or involved in other high-risk industries, your mindset can make all the difference. By reframing challenges and finding joy in your work, you can create a more productive and fulfilling experience.

2️⃣ Take care of yourself –  Self-care is not just a buzzword; it’s a crucial aspect of managing stress. Dr. Kharazi highlighted the significance of developing a habit of self-care. Prioritizing your own well-being and happiness is essential for personal growth and overall improvement. As we approach the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on what’s important and focus on those few things that will make us a better version of ourselves in the coming year.

3️⃣ Lessons for everyone – No matter what industry you work in or what position you hold, this episode has valuable lessons for everyone. Stress is a universal experience, and Dr. Kharazi’s insights can help us all navigate the challenges we face in our daily lives. So if you ever feel stressed throughout your day (and who doesn’t?), this episode is a must-listen.

I can’t stress enough how much I learned from this conversation with Dr. Kharazi. Her expertise and practical advice have truly opened my eyes to new ways of approaching stress and finding joy in my work. I hope you find this episode as enlightening and inspiring as I did!

To listen to the full episode, check out the show notes for the link. And remember, taking care of yourself and cultivating a positive mindset can transform your experience, no matter what career you’re in. Happy listening!


About Dr. Alex Kharazi

Alexandra Kharazi, MD, is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon and a skydiver. She levels the playing field of knowledge around defining privilege, sorting through emotion, and defining a sequence of events to help people make informed decisions and bravely build their best life every day.

Growing up as a 1st generation immigrant and starting a career as a female surgeon, she has a first-hand understanding of navigating adversity. As a female cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Kharazi has pursued hard-fought advances in her career for 11 years. She is the founder of The Heart of Motivation Consulting, helping people to navigate their life journey through personal deployment, mindset coordinates, and life sequences. Dr. Kharazi offers strategic knowledge that empowers people with personal enrichment, leadership, and lifestyle changes.

Having received multiple honors and recognition for patient satisfaction, she has been featured in regional and national media outlets and peer-review journals, Medium, KevinMD, and Doximity among a few. Dr. Kharazi is the author of “The Heart of Fear” and offers realistic success plans that help her audience to become better … both personally and professionally.

Dr. Kharazi is board certified in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery. She has publications in numerous medical journals including The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Innovations: Technology and Techniques in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, and Journal of Innovations in Cardiac Rhythm Management.

In addition to her medical degree, Dr. Kharazi holds a masters degree in biology, having completed a masters thesis titled “Generation and molecular analysis of dominant negative alleles of anthrax lethal factor in Drosophila.”

She is a member of the American College of Surgeons.