We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Lillea Hartwell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Lillea, do you have some perspective or insight you can share with us on the question of when someone should give up versus when they should keep going?
Wow so the language of this question to me just screams scarcity. I coach people through this daily. There are so many different reasons why choosing between “keep going” and “giving up” isn’t the most serving frame of mind. It could be burn out, chronic fatigue, mental health issues due to underlying stress management issues. But ultimately this decision comes down to what is the motivation of that person? Do they know their purpose, do they know the truth that they seek, do they know that the service they are providing or the impact that they are seeking can be achieved through this goal that they are deeming something that they should give up? “Success” is measured by many different factors. So are our “failures”. I personally have “given up” so many different things in my life to make way for the new– to provide space for new opportunities. Every “failure” or project I moved on from taught me immeasurably.

Ultimately I would say, if you feel like there are only options A and B and you must choose between the two then you have created illusionary walls for yourself. Ignite your passion, get into your body, connect with who you are and illumination will be shown to you on how to keep moving forward. “Keep moving forward” is one of my life mantras. You can continue to move forward in what you were working on or pivot into a different direction but know that whatever you decide will be in your highest good because of the intention you create around it. The are infinite tools to guide you in making these decisions and finding clarity.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am a general medicine practitioner that focuses on the treatment of autoimmunity, infectious disease and endocrine disorders. In Arizona I am considered a primary care physician. I own and run a clinic called Saguaro Blossom Medical Center where I use the full range of naturopathic medicine, including minor surgery, intravenous and intramuscular injectables as well as acupuncture. I also frequently utilize mind-body medicine techniques, clinical nutrition, botanical medicine, homeopathy and many other modalities to support the healing process of my patients. I am really passionate about dermatology and minor surgery procedures. I remove moles, skin tags, lipomas, cysts, and so much more in private practice.

Every day is a training, everyday I uncover new things to learn and new ways of being. My mission is to catalyze the healing journey for my patients. And that’s exactly what I do. As an autoimmune warrior myself, I am unique in that I belong to the autoimmune demographic that I serve. I provide the care that I wish I had received when I was first diagnosed nearly 20 years ago. I didn’t always know I wanted to be a doctor. The road here was arduous, as most are, but I have gotten where I am today by forging through with consistency, strength of conviction, and passion.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a great question…to be honest I spend most of my down time traveling to Tucson or Sedona to hike and camp and have made an effort to change my habits to suit what its line with the current times. That means I do everything I possibly can virtually, I mostly eat meals I prepared at my home or my office, and I have basically discontinued traveling for the time being.

If my best friend was visiting and we weren’t traveling across AZ we would probably:
hike at Picacho Peak State Park
visit Butterfly Wonderland
watch the sun rise at Papago Park
journey the Desert Botanical Gardens
Log into a virtual qi gong practice

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
You know that saying about raising children, “It takes a village.” That resonates with me and how I was raised, I spent a lot of time growing up with my elders and neighbors. One of the most influential people that I truly believe molded who I am as a person was named Pauline. I would often stay at her house while my parents were at work, during the pivotal years of childhood where my sponge of mind was filled to the brim.

She taught me about worthiness. That for just being me I was deserving of whatever I sought in life. She taught me about impact. And she reminded me of focus. Going through life with hyperactivity disorder, I know she was frequently challenged by my boundless energy and seeming inability to focus on the task at hand.

The greatest lesson she ever taught me was about being in service to others. There was this pivotal moment in my life where I was confronted with one of life’s oldest lessons–mortality. Pauline was getting on in age and fell ill. She was in the hospital and I thought she was going to die. I must’ve been about 5 years old at the time. And I realized I didn’t know what it took to make someone well, to heal the human body. I spent my childhood struggling with numerous severe infections and diseases myself. So I gave her a dollar bill hoping it would somehow help make her better. She did eventually get to go home from that hospital stay. Her family kept that dollar and a number of years later they gave it to me after her passing. And that same dollar has a permanent home on the walls of my clinic. To be a reminder that at the end of the day, even on the days I don’t feel like I facilitated moving the needle for my patients or my students, that the intention is the light in the darkness.

Website: drlilleahartwell.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/drlilleahartwell

Linkedin: Lillea Hartwell

Facebook: www.facebook.com/drlilleahartwell

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmD1hxsVVZ3a8nW53oJG1ZQ

Other: We’re on TikTok: @drlilleahartwell

Image Credits
IMG_9549, IMG_9609, IMG_9542 4 Ashley Stein IMG_3387 Holly Deeb IMG_8905 Oscar Thompson

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