Resilience Building
“Whether discomfort comes in the form of anxiety, fear, pain, uncertainty, or fatigue, navigating through it is what toughness is all about. Not bulldozing or pushing through, but navigating. Sometimes that means going through, around, under, or waiting until it passes.
When we frame toughness as a decision to act under discomfort, it allows us to see that toughness is far more than merely having grit or grinding through. We can actively change how we appraise, experience, and respond to discomfort. Each step along the way requires a different skill set and approach. It requires many tools, not just a hammer.”
— Steve Magness
Purpose-driven people often deliver at great personal cost. In high-stakes life transitions and work environments, your own well-being can quietly slip to the bottom of the list, even as you continue to show up for others with unwavering commitment.
Resilience coaching is a collaborative process that helps you reconnect with your purpose, replenish your energy, and restore your capacity to lead and serve with clarity and impact. It’s designed for professionals facing burnout or depletion—those who give deeply but may have lost touch with what sustains them. Together, we work to realign your values, build practical tools for renewal, and strengthen the habits that support your long-term wellbeing and effectiveness.
Using my unique Active REST Framework©, wisdom from the ages, and up-to-date evidence and techniques in behavior change, I will support you in actively rebuilding and strengthening your protective systems, starting with the fundamentals and layering on new capacities as you progress.
Coaching offers more than support — it offers renewal. Randomized controlled trials enrolling physician-clients have shown that coaching meaningfully reduces emotional exhaustion and burnout, while enhancing well-being and retention.
The Active REST Framework©: A Path to Resilience
When we are weighed down during times of stress and depletion, exertion sounds like the opposite of what we need. Unfortunately, resilience doesn’t grow passively; it’s something we must make effort to cultivate. The Active REST Framework© recognizes that building resilience—especially in such times—requires both intention and deliberate action.
REST—Restoration and Expansion System for Thriving—draws inspiration from the Bodhi Tree, a powerful symbol of stability, growth, and transformation.
Restoration: Just as the Bodhi Tree is grounded by its deep, interwoven roots, you will rebuild the foundational elements that restore your wellbeing—sleep, nutrition, physical activity, and social connection. As a physician, I naturally emphasize physical restoration, but the science is clear: social connectedness is equally essential. Study after study shows that meaningful relationships are a cornerstone of resilience and a powerful predictor of long-term happiness, buffering adversity and enhancing both emotional and physical health.
Expansion: Once your roots are strong, you can begin to expand—growing branches of resilience that include gratitude, awe, contextual awareness, mindfulness, spirituality, humor, acceptance, and service. Whether you nurture a few or many of these, they work in harmony to support your personal growth.
System: And here’s the key: awareness alone doesn’t lead to change. Social and behavior change research has taught us over decades that being aware of the practices and habits that are good for our physical or mental health is insufficient to motivate change in most people. I bring years of science-based expertise to help you develop a system of resilience, moving from intention to sustained action, using proven strategies to embed resilience-building habits that last.
Thriving: The Bodhi Tree’s lush canopy and descending aerial roots symbolize the ongoing cycle of growth and reinvestment. As you cultivate your own growth, you’ll tap into a deeper sense of purpose, quiet the ego, and foster equanimity—the ability to stay steady amidst life’s fluctuations.
Client Testimonials
“Dr. Pavani Ram is an intuitive, compassionate, and dynamic coach. I have been feeling stagnant in a career transition from academia to industry, and Pavani helped kick-start my motivation and action plan. I look forward to our sessions knowing that she is in my corner.”
“I was specifically feeling stuck in one area, and without judgement, Pavani asked questions with care and curiosity. Over our sessions, I picked myself up, dusted myself off, and through trial-and-error, we identified a strategy that meets my needs while making steady progress towards my goals.”
“I appreciate that she draws from her own esteemed career while also staying updated on rapidly shifting trends to provide strategic and impactful guidance. With her support and feedback, I am moving towards my professional goals with courage, clarity, and agency.”
“Her empathy, understanding, and openness to my situation drew me in from our first meeting. She listened to my needs, took the time to understand my strengths, and together, we developed a strategy that works for me.
I am grateful for her radical compassion and genuine care.”