What does it mean to stay tender-hearted—and even a little wild—while working in modern medicine? Dr. Wendy Lau, an emergency physician and Zen practitioner, shares the GRACE approach (Gather, Recall, Attune, Consider, Engage/End) that helps clinicians meet patients with genuine compassion, even on the busiest shifts. She explains how naming moral residue and moral injury can lift hidden weight off our shoulders and introduces self-stewardship as a practical way to set healthy limits so we can keep serving over the long haul. Along the way, Wendy reflects on community, creativity, and finding hope in the simple truth that everything changes—one breath and one patient at a time.
Resources mentioned
- Upaya Zen Center
- GRACE Framework – developed by Roshi Joan Halifax
- Cynda Rushton, PhD, RN – research on moral residue and self-stewardship
- The Inner Practice of Medicine – book by Dr. Wendy Lau
If the episode resonates, share it with a friend or send us your reflections—each voice helps broaden our circle of compassionate care.
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.