This is an excerpt from my post on HuffingtonPost.com

I totally relate to Oprah’s recent comments about fear and authentic living during the interview with Sheryl Sandberg from Facebook.

Oprah said: ” … the world will try to tell you everything about yourself, and we have so many voices in our heads and in our Facebook pages telling us everything, but to know really what to do and how to be guided in your life you have to go to that space where the bigger you, the greater you, resides.”

For nearly four years I served as the medical director and spokesperson for the Discovery Health Channel — which has become the Oprah Winfrey Network. For awhile, being on air satisfied my artistic side. But I found that after a highly-successful career in TV as a doctor, I found the depression and anxiety return. I finally found relief when I gave myself permission to do what my fear prevented me from doing all along — singing and performing. Now, my life feels like I’m more in harmony as a vocalist — the singing doctor! I’m still committed to helping other people “find their voice” and create harmony in their lives.

Please continue to read this post and leave comments at HuffingtonPost.com

I’ve had to answer the question before: What would I do if I felt no fear? I’ve also asked it differently, if I knew I only had one year to live, what would I do?

The answer was the same in both cases. I would do the things that bring me the greatest sense of peace and love. Besides connecting with loved ones more regularly, I WOULD SING!

I’ve only recently started sharing my truthful, painful journey from depression to self-expression here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrea-pennington-md/self-expression-and-depression_b_964551.html

I found that conforming to the ‘ideal’ set by my parents and society drove me to depression and anxiety.

Now, I have found greater peace and meaning by bringing together my love for helping others heal with music. Singing and being in a ‘musical space’ always leads to my own healing…whether from a bad mood or heart ache.

How sad that after all the years of medical school residency training, and clinic work that I didn’t value what my heart and soul wanted to contribute to the world through song.

What about you? Would you be ‘doing’ something else if you weren’t afraid?

Love and light to you!

Dr. Andrea