Dr. Lori Beth Bisbey's Self-Care Journey After Loss and Illness

Dr. Elena Janssen · 2026-02-18

Dr. Lori Beth Bisbey is sharing something deeply personal in her latest newsletter. She's talking about a major shift in her life, one that's been shaped by years of chronic illness, profound loss, and a long road to recovery. As she looks toward 2026, her entire understanding of what self-care really means has been completely rewritten. For decades, she lived with multiple autoimmune diagnoses. And like so many of us, she just kept pushing. She maintained a full professional workload, powering through the exhaustion and the pain. It's that classic 'grind' mentality we all know too well, where slowing down feels like failure. ### The Turning Point That Changed Everything The past two years, however, forced a hard stop. It started with the terminal illness and loss of her mother in late 2024. That kind of grief alone is enough to reshape a person's world. Then, in April 2025, she underwent major foot and ankle surgery. This wasn't a minor procedure; it demanded extended, mandatory rest. For someone used to pushing through, this was a profound lesson in surrender. This combination of events became her turning point. It reframed self-care from being an occasional indulgence or a luxury item on a to-do list into something non-negotiable. She now sees it as a necessary, daily practice for physical, emotional, and spiritual longevity. It's the foundation, not the decoration. ### Learning the True Meaning of Rest In her own words, Bisbey shares the core of her new understanding. "Since the surgery, I have learned what rest really means," she said. "I have learned that sometimes self-care means doing nothing." Think about that for a second. In a culture that glorifies busyness, doing nothing can feel like a radical act of rebellion. She continues, "For me, self-care is about consistently doing the things that are necessary for my physical, emotional and spiritual health." It's that word—*consistently*—that's key. It's not a one-off spa day; it's the small, daily choices that add up to a sustainable life. ### Looking Ahead to 2026 with Clarity So why share this story now? Bisbey hopes that by opening up, she can help others recognize the steep cost of constant overextension before they hit their own breaking point. She wants people to understand that burning out isn't a badge of honor. It's a signal that the system is broken. As she looks toward 2026, her focus is crystal clear: - **Presence:** Being truly here, not just physically going through the motions. - **Sustainability:** Building a life and work rhythm that doesn't require constant recovery. - **Integrated Well-Being:** Creating a structure that allows for genuine service to others *without* sacrificing her own health in the process. It's about building a life that doesn't force you to choose between helping the world and being well yourself. They should be two sides of the same coin. Her journey is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is to stop, rest, and heal. And that's a lesson worth carrying into any new year.