How to Find Peace When Everything Falls Apart: A Doctor’s Journey With Dr Stacey Funt
When life throws you a curveball, it’s easy to feel lost. But as this story shows, sometimes the greatest breakdowns lead to the biggest breakthroughs. This is a journey of finding peace through grief, loss, and the courage to start over.
The Breakdown: When Your Life Takes an Unexpected Turn
I still remember driving to the hospital, tears streaming down my face, wondering how everything had gone so wrong. My career in radiology, which I once enjoyed, had become a source of stress. The corporatization of healthcare had led to a new contract that didn’t align with my values, and the job market was tough. I tried to “make it work” in a new role, but the long commute and erratic schedule were taking a toll. I felt miserable.
Then, I got sick. Lying in bed with pneumonia, completely drained, I had a moment of total clarity. I realized this wasn’t the life I wanted. It was time to let go of everything—the job, the house, the expectations—and find a more authentic path.
The Breakthrough: Listening to Your Inner Voice
After recovering, I gave notice at my job. But in a surprising turn of events, my chairman offered me a consistent schedule and one less day per week. I took the offer, but I also made a promise to myself: I wouldn’t settle again. I would move toward what brought me joy and aligned with my values.
I sought help from a therapist and a career coach and started exploring my passions. I’d always loved travel, creativity, connection, and wellness. Following this spark, I became a certified health coach, even though I didn’t have a concrete plan. This was the next “right thing,” and it made me feel alive again. I started a company, gave talks on self-care, and helped with a lifestyle medicine elective. My part-time radiology work became more manageable, and I felt more like myself.
The Journey: Following Your Passion
Eventually, I found a better part-time radiology job with a stable schedule and continued my wellness work. But something was still missing. That’s when I had an idea that combined two of my greatest loves: travel and wellness. The thought of it made me light up.
I planned my first wellness retreat for female physicians, and it sold out. Though the pandemic forced me to cancel, the idea never left me. After my twins left for college, a trekking trip to Nepal solidified my purpose. I realized it was time to start my own wellness adventure travel company.
The Reward: Finding Peace in a Meaningful Life
Today, I run LH Adventure Travel, creating and hosting global small-group adventures for women. Most of my trips sell out, and I get to foster joy, connection, and growth in others. Building this business has been challenging, but it’s also deeply rewarding. It’s my passion work, and I feel aligned with who I am.
I still work two days a week in radiology, but it’s now just one part of a much more meaningful life. I’ve learned that peace isn’t always about stillness; sometimes, it’s about moving in the right direction. By taking one honest, brave step at a time, you can find your way to a more peaceful and authentic life.
Stacey Funt, MD, NBWHC
Dr. Stacey Funt is a radiologist, certified health coach, and the founder of LH Adventure Travel, a company specializing in women’s wellness adventures and private group trips around the world. Blending her background in lifestyle medicine with a lifelong passion for travel, Stacey designs immersive journeys that support well-being through movement, nourishing food, meaningful connection, and restorative time in nature. At the heart of her work is a belief in the transformative power of awe—those breathtaking moments that reconnect us to what matters. Her trips invite women to feel more alive and aligned, while sharing beauty, joy, and soul-stirring experiences in extraordinary places. Stacey’s work has been featured in travel and medical publications, and she has been a guest on many podcasts, where she shares insights on wellness, purpose-driven travel, and creating a meaningful second chapter.
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https://www.linkedin.com/in/staceyfunt/
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