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Living on autopilot can make it easy to keep moving forward without stopping to ask if you're still headed in the right direction. 

In this episode, I reflect on the years I spent on autopilot in my 28-year marriage and in my 17-year medical career, and how easy it is to keep moving forward because you're busy, comfortable, responsible, or simply used to the way things are. I share what it looked like for me to finally slow down, pay attention, and recognize that the plans I had made years ago didn't necessarily reflect who I was becoming.

This episode isn't about making sudden changes. It's about checking in with yourself, noticing what no longer fits, and being intentional about the direction you're taking.

Because sometimes the first step toward your next chapter is simply asking: If I were choosing this life today, would I still choose it?

Topics Covered:

 00:00:00 – Episode snippet

00:01:16 – Would you choose this life today?

00:02:34 – What does autopilot really mean?

00:06:51 – Autopilot in marriage

00:08:18 – How busyness keeps us on autopilot

00:10:06 – Season 5 Sponsor: First Light Home Care of Bowie 

00:12:49 – Autopilot in your career

00:14:16 – Listening to God’s direction

00:17:31 – When turbulence becomes unavoidable

00:19:23 – This isn't about quitting

00:21:23 – The cost of living on autopilot

00:23:40 – Check your instruments

00:26:18 – Take the wheel

00:27:23 – Map a new course

00:28:04 – Redesign your next chapter

Key Takeaways:

“Is this the life you would choose on purpose today if you are choosing it with fresh eyes?”

“If you think that it's scary to map out a new course, know that it's scarier to live a life that you're not supposed to live.”

✨Season 5 Sponsor: 

Our Season 5 sponsor is FirstLight Home Care of Bowie. They are a Black-woman owned non-medical home care agency serving families throughout Prince George’s County, MD since 2017. They offer specialized in-home care for individuals navigating: Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke Recovery, and Diabetes. Please visit their website or call 301-778-1988 for more information.

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About Your Host

Dr. Nicole is a pediatrician, the owner of a successful healthcare consulting company, a riveting keynote and TEDx speaker, and the mom of two beautiful young adult daughters. From the outside, she appeared to have it all. But in 2023 she faced the most difficult challenge of her life- ending a 28-year marriage and navigating heartbreak, deception, and loss. Dr. Nicole is committed to creating a safe space where other women who have experienced a “divine disruption” can heal, recover, and THRIVE!

Connect with Dr. Nicole:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/yournextchap

Your nEXt Chapter podcast explores the challenges and triumphs women face as they reclaim joy, reimagine the future, and redefine their identity after divorce and other unexpected life transitions. Join Dr. Nicole as she shares insights from her journey as a high-achieving professional woman navigating divorce while walking in her Christian faith.

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