What Am I Modeling? Dr. Tricia Pingel on Success, Stress & Self-Worth
What happens when a woman spends her entire life striving for approval, achieving, caring for everyone else—and eventually realizes she has lost connection with herself?
In this powerful conversation with naturopathic physician, lifelong model, author, and dancer Dr. Tricia Pingel, we explore the deeper story behind stress and burnout. Tricia shares how decades of external pressure, grief, caregiving, perfectionism, and constantly pushing forward eventually caught up with her body.
After losing her mother to cancer, Tricia was forced to confront a question that changed the direction of her life: What happens if I keep living this way?
Her answer led her to make some profound changes—including stepping away from a demanding medical practice and rediscovering something she had loved since childhood: dance. Hip-hop became an unexpected doorway back to joy, connection, and herself.
This conversation goes far beyond avoiding burnout. Tricia explores the difference between external and internal stress, why stress itself isn't necessarily the problem, how our relationship with technology can affect our nervous systems, the pressure women face to take care of everyone else, and why changing the way we respond to stress can be more powerful than waiting for life to become less stressful.
At the heart of it all is a simple but transformative message: you are worth showing up for.
In This Episode, We Discuss:
- Why high-achieving women can lose connection with themselves while “doing everything right”
- How grief and loss changed Dr. Tricia Pingel’s understanding of health and success
- The lifelong search for external approval—and learning to trust internal wisdom
- How modeling shaped Tricia’s relationship with body image, achievement, and self-worth
- The difference between external stress and internal stress
- Why stress is part of life—and why our response to it matters
- How chronic stress can affect the body’s nutritional and hormonal systems
- The importance of recovery, boundaries, and allowing yourself to feel
- How technology and constant stimulation can influence our relationship with stress
- Why being busy has become intertwined with our ideas about success
- Tricia’s personal experience with burnout and reaching a breaking point
- How dance and joy became an unexpected part of her healing journey
- The courage to change your life even when the decision feels risky
- Why women need permission to prioritize themselves and set boundaries
- Finding community, connection, gratitude, and a new definition of success
- The powerful shift from living for external approval to choosing yourself
About Dr. Tricia Pingel
Dr. Tricia Pingel is a naturopathic physician, lifelong fashion model, and hip-hop enthusiast who helps leaders answer the question that changes everything: “What am I modeling?”
Her personal transformation—including rediscovering her love of dance—changed the way she understood health, stress, joy, and the individuality of the nervous system.
Tricia is the author of Total Health Turnaround, host of the What Am I Modeling? podcast, and has been featured in Prevention Magazine, Women’s Health, and The Dr. Axe Show.
Find Dr. Tricia Pingel
Website: Dr. Tricia Pingel
Store: Total Health Apothecary
Facebook: @DrTriciaPingel
Instagram: @drpingel
Podcast: What Am I Modeling?
YouTube: @drpingel
TikTok: @drtriciapingel
LinkedIn: @tricia-pingel-nmd
Tricia specifically invites listeners to connect with her through her website and social platforms and let her know they heard her on SoulShift.
Resources & Links:
- Explore Mindy’s work at www.thefreedompromise.com
- Connect with Ali at www.aliandersonwellness.com
- Learn more about Christine at www.radiantheart.health
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✨ Let’s shift — gently, together. ✨
