Tiny Bites of Wagaliciousness

Are you in the very destructive habit of comparing yourself to others? Maybe you look at another person and think “they’re better-looking than me.” Maybe you struggle with something at work that another co-worker finds easy and think “they’re smarter than me.” Maybe you look at the achievements of your classmates and think “they so much more successful than me.” The moment you compare yourself to someone else, you gut your self-confidence. It doesn’t matter what that comparison is about, it doesn’t matter whether it feels small or large, by the simple act of comparing yourself to another person, you are judging yourself and finding yourself lacking. Comparison is normal human behavior – it’s part of the decision-making process. That doesn’t mean it’s beneficial, so if you’re in the habit of comparing your “whatever” to someone else’s “whatever” try this instead: admire that quality in them. Say it to them if that feels right, or just say it inside your head. At the end of the words of admiration, stop – nothing can come out of your mouth or inside your head that has anything to do with how you measure up by comparison. Admiration, not comparison, will begin to undo the damage you’ve done to yourself. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader

Judgement happens all the time. Sometimes judgement is good, and sometimes it’s not good for you at all. When you think about it at its most basic, when you make a judgement about something, you’re simply making a choice. When you make a choice about what you prefer and what you want to experience in your life, your judgement is right, good, and it serves you. When you point your judgment towards others, trying to get them to conform to your way of thinking and behaving, then your judgment isn’t good for you, and it isn’t a good look on you, either. Just like you have different flavors and foods that you prefer, others have them, too, and they’re not necessarily the same as yours, right? Every person has a unique set of experiences and beliefs that has shaped them, and their experiences and beliefs are as valid and real to them as yours are to you. Go ahead and make all the judgements about yourself and your life that you want to make, and adjust your behaviors to suit your life as it moves forward. Just don’t point that judgement at anyone else and expect them to adjust their behavior to suit you. It’s not their job to change for you, and when you think they should they’ll resent you every single time. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Have you ever felt better after you lost something you thought you wanted? I’m not talking about expensive jewelry, I’m talking about a relationship. When my wasband ended our 30-year marriage, I was shocked to realize that a part of me felt free. When I moved into a small apartment, it felt good to make all the decisions. It felt good to not worry about any of the little things I smoothed over, sucked up, and did just to keep the peace, not because I wanted to do them. Talking to others whose relationships didn’t make it to the “til death do us part” part I realized my experience was far from rare, though some people took a lot longer to realize how good freedom felt. If you’re faced with a loss that’s not your choice, it sucks and I’m sorry. And it’s also a gift and you get to decide when to unwrap it. There’s goodness on the other side, once you allow yourself to enjoy that goodness. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

A small cut on your hand won’t bleed enough to kill you. Several small cuts on your hand and arm won’t bleed enough to kill you. Hundreds of small cuts on your body begin to be quite concerning, and once you get to a thousand cuts that only bleed a drop or two each, that can kill you. Why am I painting this somewhat gruesome picture for you? Inside your head, you cut yourself hundreds of times each day without even knowing it, and what you’re killing is your confidence and ability to lead effectively. When your brain says things like, “she’s so much more confident than me” or “I’m too fat” or “my legs look funny” or “people like them better than me” you’re cutting yourself in ways that can harm you for years, maybe even the rest of your life. You can make your brain stop cutting you – pay attention to what it says and when you hear those kinds of damaging words, put up your mental stop sign and change the narrative. “My legs look funny” can become “my legs are functional and useful and I appreciate them.” Do this every time your brain cuts you and watch your confidence soar. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

What is your sphere of genius? Everyone has at least one thing they’re really good at, really passionate about, and probably pretty humble about. Today, whenever you have some down time, think about what your sphere of genius is. If you get hung up on applying the word “genius” to yourself, that’s OK – choose another one, like talent, or ability, or interest. Write down the things that come easily to you, things you’ve been interested in since childhood, things you would do even if you never get paid to do them. Think of how the items on your list overlap and intermingle – what ability or abilities do they all have in common? When you have thoroughly investigated your talents, interests, and abilities, you’ve identified your sphere of genius. Pay attention to the things in your life that you have to do – how can you bring your sphere of genius into play as you do them? This is a wonderful way to bring more personal satisfaction to your life, moment by moment. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Is there someone you deal with a lot – maybe a co-worker, maybe a family member – who gets your goat? They make you crazy, and you find them hard to be around, yet you can’t completely avoid them? Maybe you even blame them at least a little bit for how you feel and act when you’re around them? Uh-oh…that’s one step too far, and you might want to examine that blame-game you’re playing. Yes, there are people who are difficult to be around, and that’s on them. Not everyone knows how to act, and not everyone cares about how you receive them. When you say things like, “Suzi is so manipulative that I have to call her out when she does it” what you’re really saying is, “Oh poor me…that person is so powerful that they can even make me think thoughts and do behaviors against my own free will.” Yep – when you blame another person for your behavior, you’re saying to the world that the other person is more powerful than you are. You have self-control – in that situation, you’re choosing not to use it. Own that, instead of owning your powerlessness. And when you realize that you’re not using your self-control, then you can find the strength inside yourself to use it. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Do you sometimes feel like the future is a maze of too many choices? It can be daunting to wake up in the morning, knowing you have a big decision to make. There are rarely just two choices, and when you start comparing other people’s input to decide which one is empirically right, it can feel overwhelming. Here’s an idea – instead of weighing the pros and the cons of each choice, compare how the different choices feel to you. Sit with one choice for a while…pretend that you’ve already made that choice and you’re living the life you’ll live afterwards. Play with that in your mind: where are you living, who is around you, what are you doing, and how is all of this making you feel? Write down the feelings you feel after making that choice. Now, shake that fantasy off and mentally make another choice, then do the same thing. Pretend you’re living that life now…how does that make you feel? These mental movies that you create are very powerful when you’re honest with yourself and when you focus on how the movies make you feel instead of focusing on everyone else’s input. Repeat the process with each different possible choice, and suddenly the maze of choices feels more like a drag strip, and one choice is the clear winner. Yay, you! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Have you ever thought about the things that you believe? Imagine your beliefs as perfectly unique roadmaps that guide you through life. They’re unique to you because no one else has led the life you’ve led, learned from the mistakes you’ve made, or felt the feelings you’ve felt as you’ve lived. Sometimes, you might find yourself at a crossroads on that roadmap, face-to-face with someone who's been down a completely different path, you both think you're on the right path, and you both stubbornly stand your ground, like two explorers insisting your route is the only one. Our brains are constantly searching for clues that validate the path we’re on, carving those beliefs into our brains like prehistoric maps etched into rock. The next time someone tries to convince you that their map is the only true one, simply offer a warm smile and remember that in life’s journey, they’re on a separate path from you. Instead of trying to convince them of your rightness and their wrongness, just change the subject. There’s no use arguing about which route is the best one to follow…you have yours, they have theirs. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Do you feel like your life is a wobbly tightrope, making you feel off-balance? And when things get shaky, do you feel a bit peculiar, like you’re trying to balance on that tightrope? Researchers at the University of California Riverside have found that the unease caused by uncertainty is worse than the reality of falling down. Humans are kind of weird like that – we are preferring the fall to the feeling of wondering if we’ll fall. No matter what’s going on in your life, remember it’s just a small piece of your life, and you’ve been through lots of small pieces of life before this one. You’ll make it through this one, too. So strap on those tightrope-walking shoes, grab the balance pole, start walking, and don’t look down. Before you know it, you’ll feel like you’re walking on air, and when you reach the other side of this problem, you will be walking on air! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Are you feeling like that emperor in the childhood story – you know, the one who went through the town naked and no one would tell him the truth? Navigating life is a little bit like trying on different outfits to see which one fits just right. Sometimes, we wonder if we're wearing the perfect ensemble, which could be a relationship, a hometown, or a job. Take a moment to think about your current "outfit" – does it hug you comfortably, or does it feel a bit too tight?  Before you rush off to the store for a new wardrobe, think about what’s already in your closet. Can you make some changes in your attitude or approach to make your current situation feel just right? If the answer is yes, then start there, like adding a belt to make your pants fit better. Have some fun tweaking your mindset and creating a more fitting "outfit" for yourself. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Consider life as a huge stage where we all play our parts, and sometimes, the script takes a dramatic turn. The plot twist could include the loss of a job, a cherished relationship, or the painful departure of a loved one. The spotlight is on you, it’s blue, and you feel as though you’ll never find happiness again. Yet, as the play moves forward, act by act, you may stumble across a moment that catches you off guard, a moment of laughter or lightness that filters through the heavy curtains of grief. You might feel guilty for feeling happy, like it’s a forbidden trespasser on the stage of sorrow. Like the hero of the story that you are, stand tall, know your lines are coming from your heart, and firmly tell guilt to march off the stage and out of the spotlight. Sorrow was never meant to be our co-star, just a bit player that reminds us how good life is, most of the time. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Think of your energy as an old-fashioned wellspring, and of a few people in your life – you know who they are! – who dip their bucket in way too many times, draining you dry. They demand more than you can comfortably provide, neglecting the value of the precious water you generously offer. Time to cap off that well, at least for those few who abuse your generous nature. Your time is a precious resource – your energy is a precious resource – your heart is a precious resource, and just like water in a bucket, these few people are dipping into your resources far too often. If they flood your day with calls and texts, construct a simple response: "I'll be available later today." Don’t elaborate – you don’t have to. And “be available later today” only if you can be. If not, then when they show up with their empty bucket, let them know that today isn’t their day and they can try again tomorrow. Maintain an air of detachment, applying this shield consistently whenever they invade your boundary. At first, guilt may gnaw at your resolve, and you can bet they won’t be happy with you. Be consistent and remember – those who complain most about your boundaries are the very people that made you set them. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Picture yourself as a sailor on a vast, uncharted sea, feeling adrift with no clear course ahead. Oh, maybe you’ve felt like that before? We all have. There's a destination you yearn to reach, but the water is rough and hard to navigate. Instead of focusing on the waves, let your gaze rise to the starry night sky above, and let your mind play with why. Why are you on this journey, and why are you the chosen captain for this voyage? Think of your strengths and how you’ll feel when you reach your destination. Will you stand tall with pride? Will you celebrate with the rest of the crew? Will you share the wisdom gained on the voyage with those who wish they had your courage and your ship? As you focus on the possibilities, you may find that the waters have calmed, and you have newfound clarity. Now you're no longer stranded; you're on a purposeful voyage, sailing toward your dreams. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Where are you in the pathway to success you’ve dreamed for yourself? Imagine your life as a symphony, and within this magnificent composition, you are first chair, playing your exquisite instrument. We're often taught to appreciate the crescendos, the thunderous applause, and the spotlight of success. Yet, in this symphony, it’s the subtle, harmonious notes you contribute that leads to the crescendos, applause, and success. It's in the gentle smile to a passing stranger, the act of helping someone in need, and the attentive ear lent to a friend who’s hurting or needs advice. Purpose is not a solo performance, though you can shine that way, too. Purpose is also in the countless, melodious notes and phrases that you offer each day, playing them so easily you don’t even notice them anymore. Today, take a moment to embrace these countless notes, because they compose the beautiful, intricate melody of your life's purpose. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Think of each day as a page in the journal of your life. Did you write a mistake on today's page? Good job! Did you feel the cold grip of discomfort as you wrote, whether physical or mental? Excellent! Did you accidentally craft a plot twist, taking a satisfying resolution and turning it into a thorny problem? Well done! It’s in these moments that you're not just living - you're truly alive and human. We as a species wouldn’t have come as far as we’ve come without the ability to learn from our mistakes. When you wallow in a mistake, you’re not learning from it, you’re beating yourself up with it. As long as you breathe, you have a beautiful page in your journal to write your evolution. Challenges might be ink blots on your journal page, and you can cry over them or let them inspire a fun doodle around them. Embrace mistakes - they are the journal entries that keep your story rich and compelling. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader

Is there someone in your life who’s not good for themselves? Think of them as a flower in your garden. Maybe a friend or colleague struggles with self-destructive habits, like the flower that fails to thrive like the other ones around it. For your garden flower you might give it extra attention while seeking advice from others. Your friend, like that flower, requires your gentle support and maybe professional assistance, too. When your friend or coworker confides in you - the one who skips meals and sips black coffee instead, the one whose scars peek out of the end of their shirt sleeve, or the one who always belittles themselves - this simple phrase can be a lifeline: "I wish you saw your value like I do…I love you and want you to thrive." If the word "love" feels too strong, you can replace it with "care about." This phrase won't miraculously heal them, but it might plant a seed of self-reflection, leading them toward the help they need. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Imagine yourself as a thread in the tapestry of life. Especially during an unsettling time, it can be easy to feel tiny, lost in the vast design, and wondering if your presence matters at all. As humans, we underestimate our own strengths because they come so easily to us. We assume that others can do what we can do, and can probably do it better. That’s not true: you are a rare gem, a tapestry of talents and skills and an integral part of the larger tapestry. Your very presence enriches the world, weaving your unique gifts, humor, and compassionate heart into everything you touch. The world, like a magnificent tapestry, becomes more vibrant with everything you do. Thank you for being an irreplaceable piece of the beautiful tapestry we’re all living. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Are you feeling a little bit powerless right now? Try this - imagine your power as a radiant, focused beam of light, shining only on the present moment. The brilliance of your past achievements or the gleam of your future dreams might tempt you to think about them, but they are completely outside that little pool of light. Your power lies only in what that beam of light is shining on – the present moment that you’re standing in. What steps will you take in this moment? What thoughts will you allow to bask in that light? What choices will you spotlight at your center-stage-now moment? The past and the future shine, too, but like stars - faint, beautiful and unreachable. That radiant, focused beam of light is only shining on right now. When you can remember this, especially in difficult moments, you become infinitely more powerful because you’ll be shaping your destiny, right here, right now. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Is there someone who wants you to be someone you’re not? Imagine the people in your world as a large puzzle, with you as a beautiful, integral piece. When someone’s piece doesn't quite fit with yours, do you contort yourself to fit into their preferred picture? Do you hide your vibrant colors, hoping they'll like you better? Just like how the sun can’t shine on the whole earth at once, not everyone will bask in your light. This is a basic truth of being human, and it doesn't reflect on your worth. In times like these, hold fast to the profound wisdom that declares, "what other people think of me is none of my business." Focus your energies on those who love and appreciate your perfect puzzle-piece shape instead of bending yourself out of shape to try to fit in. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

How confident in your self-confidence are you? Just what is confidence, anyway? Merriam-Webster says confidence is a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something. Most of us are confident about some things, and not so confident about others. For most people, confidence grows with age, because we gain more perspective about whether we can do something well and about whether it’s even ours to do in the first place! That piece is major – knowing what’s not ours to do increases feelings of wellbeing and confidence. When you trust your ability to learn new things, you gain confidence. When you practice something, you gain confidence. Being confident doesn’t mean that you think you’re better than others, it simply means you recognize the best of yourself. It means you’re the person in charge of your day, no matter what those around you do, because you know you can handle it. There – doesn’t that make you feel more confident already? Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Are you a fan of Jimmy Buffett? I am, and have been for about 4 decades. In the mountain of articles about him since his passing on Friday, one thing stands out - that man was an amazing leader. He had vision, he was resilient, he was coachable and teachable, he built a network, then leveraged the network to build an empire that landed him on the list of the world's billionaires. Perhaps the best illustration of his leadership skills, though, was how long his band mates stayed with him: all the members of the Coral Reefer Band spent most of their adult life working with Jimmy Buffett. The one who was there longest was Michael Utley - 48 years of traveling and playing keyboards for flocks of Parrotheads. In the waves of memes quoting Jimmy Buffett song lyrics, this quote from an interview has been missed, and I want to share it with you today: “I have always looked at life as a voyage, mostly wonderful, sometimes frightening. In my family and friends, I have discovered treasure more valuable than gold.” If you want to lead a successful life, no matter how you define success, be like the King of the Parrotheads - find the value in friends and family, nurture it, and cherish it. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Do you have a dog? Dogs have been part of my life since I was 8 years old and Dad brought home a tiny, warm nugget of fur, kisses, and a wagging tail. Unless you’re frightened of dogs, you’ve probably experienced the feeling of complete peace that sometimes happens when you and the dog are going for a walk. Dogs are the world’s most charming example of how to live in the moment. They’re perfectly present – they’re smelling the smells, scanning for squirrels, and basking in the glow of being with you. Dogs know how to take in their environment as it is – no second-guessing about motives, stressing about something happening in the future, or wallowing in guilt or fear or regrets about the past. Dogs behave as if every day of their life is the best day they ever had. What if we knew how to do that? What if we could be so present in the present moment that we could enjoy every nuance of it, like dogs can? What if we could focus on the good things surrounding us, instead of automatically judging the people, sights, sounds, and even ourselves? For today, can you carve out a few minutes to try to be as wise as your dog? Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Are you one of those people who likes to help make things – and people – work better? Many of the best people on the planet are fixers – see a problem, fix a problem. It’s how things get done, how the human race makes progress, and for some people, it’s as natural as breathing. And that might be a problem. Have you ever heard the phrase, “to a hammer, everything looks like a nail?” If everything looks like a problem that you have to solve – and maybe you think you’re the one who MUST solve it – then this Tiny Bite is specifically for you. Learn how not to fix everything. Master not fixing things and you’ll be less stressed, plus the people around you will have a chance to shine for a change. When you automatically fix problems that really should be addressed by others, you keep the others from learning, growing, and building their own self-confidence. Sure, they might not do it exactly as you would, or maybe not even get the problem fixed at all. Let them do it anyway. Not every problem belongs to you, so when you learn to let go and let others fix things for a change, it’s a win for everyone, you included. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Who brings magic into your life? You don’t have to be best friends with David Copperfield to experience magical moments. Think about who surprises you. Think about who you laugh with a lot. Think about who inspires you, and that you learn from. Think about the person who learns from you. All those people you just thought about are sprinkling little bits of magic into your life by being part of it, whether or not you have thought of it that way before. Now, think about the people on your list of magic-bringers that you’ve known for less than a year. Thirteen months ago, you didn’t even know those people existed, and now here they are, making your life better. Fast-forward twelve months – who will you meet in the coming year that will bring even more magic into your life? Write down the names of the people you’ve thought about – the people who bring magic into your life – and when you’re having a down day, take out the list and think about them. That will probably give your spirits a boost – if you want even more good feelings, reach out to someone on the list and go do something with them. There are always magical people – focus on them any time you feel the need for a magical mood shift.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Are you familiar with the concept of “flow state” or being in the zone? That’s what happens when you are completely engrossed in doing one thing. When you’re in flow state, it can feel like time is standing still and like the rest of the world doesn’t even exist for you in that moment. You’re not worried, stressed, or anxious – you’re happily, thoroughly absorbed in what you’re doing. It’s like the task you’re involved in is a river and you’re dancing on top, being carried downstream effortlessly while you create a beautiful performance. The river would just be the river without your dance, and you wouldn’t effortlessly make progress without the river’s current. You can’t always put yourself into flow state, and you can do things which could help you enter flow state more often. First, remember times you’ve been in the zone before – what did those times have in common? Make a list of everything you can think of – indoors or out? Quiet or noisy? If there was music, what kind? How can you duplicate those circumstances when you want to encourage flow state? The more you practice, the better you’ll become at dancing on your river, at work and in your everyday life. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Do you have co-workers or do you have friends? Hopefully you don’t have enemies at work! If you’re like most people, some of the people you work with are friends, and most are co-workers. How different would going to work feel if more of your co-workers felt like friends? It doesn’t take a lot to foster a more positive relationship with co-workers, because you already start off with something big in common – you spend your work hours at the same place, maybe even doing a lot of the same things. A big step towards more positivity is to look at your co-workers as people whose skills complement your skills instead of as competition. You all bring something unique to the workplace – see if you can find out what that could be. Chances are you and your co-workers have more in common than just your workplace. When you are interested in them as people, they’ll likely feel the same about you. Now you’ve fostered a better, more positive relationship which could well become a new friendship. Do this with another co-worker, and then another, and like a quilt, you will have stitched together something beautifully functional. That’s guaranteed to make you feel better about going to work each day, right? Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

When someone says something and you instantly take offense, you have just given your power away to that person. Wait – what? Yep, whenever you react without thinking, you’ve demonstrated that the event or person who caused the reaction is more powerful than you. Let’s say you always get mad when you’re driving behind a van or truck. Why wouldn’t you be mad? After all, you can’t see through the vehicle in front of you, and you feel boxed in. Does the driver of the other vehicle even know you’re angry? No. Would they care, even if they did? No. Why should they care? After all, they’ve chosen the vehicle they need to carry the things or people they need to carry. Their vehicle choice has nothing to do with you, and your anger has nothing to do with them. Use your brain’s executive function – the ability to observe your reaction and change it – to choose a different way to feel and behave next time you get behind a van or truck, or whatever sets you off. Play with this technique, and see how powerful you feel, now that you’re the one in charge of you. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Are you doubting yourself? Imposter syndrome is endemic in our society – media is constantly reminding us we’re not thin enough or pretty enough or curvy enough or smart enough or whatever enough, and sadly, many people buy into those impossible-to-live-up-to standards. When you find yourself feeling less than, or not up to the challenge of doing something you want to do, stop. Remind yourself of how far you’ve come. Remind yourself of the many things you couldn’t do before and can do now. Remind yourself that life is an endless process of learning and growing and you’ve been good at that your entire life. When an opportunity comes to you and that voice inside your head starts telling you all the reasons you’ll fail, remember this – the opportunity wouldn’t have come if you hadn’t demonstrated the ability to grow into it. Do you want it? Then say “yes” and tell the voice inside your head to stand back and watch you succeed, because you will. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Want to become a great leader? And what does being a great leader mean to you? If you lead a team or want to lead a team, you owe it to the people you lead to be the kind of leader they need. What the heck does that mean? The Gallup team condensed the capabilities of a great leader into four key attributes: trust, compassion, stability, and hope.  People need someone they feel trusts them and whom they can trust, a sense of mutual respect and caring, the knowledge that the leader walks their talk, and someone who can instill a vision for the future plus show them the path to get there. How can you become that leader? Use your brain’s executive function to improve your skills, knowledge, and mental wellbeing. Your executive function is your ability to observe your own thoughts and decide if they are thoughts that will help you grow or keep you stuck. Here's the key – you are the only person who can do this for yourself, because you are the only person who can observe your own thoughts. Ready to be a great leader? Let your executive function lead the way! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

There are a lot of ways to cope with a painful experience. Some people cry for days, some people lash out at anyone who tries to help, some people self-medicate with food or sex or drugs, and some people withdraw into themselves, waiting for the pain to subside. What’s the right way to cope with a painful experience? Find a way to distract yourself until you regain your balance – take a walk, take a bath, take a pen and write out how you’re feeling. Get some exercise, go to a movie and lose yourself for a couple of hours, give yourself a pep talk in the mirror. Meditate, make a to-do list, make an appointment with a therapist. The right way to cope with a painful experience is to do what helps you feel better, moment by moment, not what makes you feel worse. Crying for days keeps you stuck in the pain, plus it makes your face look funny. Lashing out at friends and family isolates you. Binging on food, sex, or drugs might feel good in the moment – later on you’ll kick yourself for your weakness. Get up, get moving, get help – they’ll all help you get better. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Many people dream of doing something that they never do. Why? Because they don’t believe in their ability to achieve that dream. It could be because they were raised by people who believed in hard work, not dreams. It could be because they have been told by people they hold in high regard that their dream can’t ever happen. It could be because they don’t believe in themselves, so why should they believe in their dream? The root cause of the disbelief doesn’t really matter – the end result is that they want something that they never achieve. Do you want that to be you? Yeah…me neither! Dreams are wonderful to dream, and even more wonderful when they become real enough to experience. Dream your dream. Journal about it, make vision boards about it, pray about it – whatever feels right to you, focus on your dream and do it. You don’t have to know how what you dream of can become reality, you just have to enjoy your dream. When you savor the dream in your mind on a regular basis, your brain will begin to believe in your ability to achieve it. What dream will you focus on today? Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

I was raised by a wonderful woman who unintentionally taught me a lesson that didn’t serve me, just as it didn’t serve her very well. People loved her – I can’t count the number of times I heard, “your mom is so kind – butter wouldn’t even melt in her mouth.” It’s true that she very rarely said a bad thing about anyone because she did look for the best motives in even the worst events. That’s a good habit to get into and will help you feel calmer and more at ease in the world. The companion habit – biting your tongue to keep the peace – isn’t so good, even though it might seem to be helpful. Not voicing an opinion about something that matters to you is a double-edged sword: you hurt yourself by not speaking up, and you hurt the relationship between you and the person you’re not speaking up to by not showing them who you really are. If you’re afraid they won’t like you, consider this: they already don’t like you, they like the fictional person you’re showing them. You’re allowed to have opinions and feelings and desires – have them and share them, because that makes it more likely that you’ll live them. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

What do you want in life that feels like it’s eluding you? A relationship, career advancement, improved finances? Most of us have things that we long for, dream about, wish for, and never seem to be able to achieve. Sometimes the drive to bang this piece of our life into place feels all-consuming, and we focus on making it happen instead of focusing on the other important aspects of our life. Know anyone who is so focused on finding their life partner that they neglect their friends and family? Yeah…sadly, most of us know at least one person like that. There was a Brazilian writer named Mario Quintana who wrote, “Don’t waste your time chasing butterflies. Mend your garden, and the butterflies will come.” This is easy to understand if we’re just talking about butterflies and flowers, and can be tougher to remember when what we’re talking about feels vital to our personal happiness or success. Yet the principle is the same: create the atmosphere in your life for the thing you want and it will come to you. Improve your skills and leadership abilities, and career advancement and improved finances will come. Focus on being the best version of you that you can be and the friends and partner you long for will come. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Are you feeling uninspired and listless? Maybe you feel grumpy, a bit light-headed, or unfocused? Drink water right now. You’ve probably heard that the body is about 60% water – it’s a rough average, depending on your body type and gender. The brain is about 75% water – that’s all of us, no exceptions. When you’re even just 1% low on water in your body, brain function declines sharply while pain in the body increases. If you’re prone to headaches, maybe even daily headaches, this is a common side effect of dehydration. Researchers are divided as to whether pain in other parts of the body actually increases as the level of hydration decreases, or whether a person’s perception of the pain increases. I don’t want to feel pain, and I’m pretty sure you don’t either, and feeling grumpy, unfocused, and uninspired is not a good way to go through the day. Drink water. Drink water regularly to keep dehydration symptoms from showing up, and when you notice that you’re a little “off” drink water right then, too. If you’re pooh-poohing this, that’s OK – drink water anyway and I promise not to say I told you so when you feel better. ;) Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Are you feeling limp today? Make decisions. It doesn’t really matter what you make decisions about, just decide. Jeans or pants today? Pullover or button down? Chocolate or pink lipstick? Flats or heels? Home brew or drive-through? Decide something. Anything. Making decisions keeps you focused in the present, and being present helps you notice what’s going on around you. When you notice what’s going on around you, your mind gets engaged in thinking about the events and all the options. That can be stressful, so to counteract the stress just decide. Then decide again. There is such a thing as decision fatigue – the brain makes better decisions earlier in the day, and when you have a day where you’ve had to make too many decisions, you can end up feeling wrung out. When you start the day feeling that way, though, just decide. And then decide again. You’ll jump-start your coping skills and create the mental atmosphere for success. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

You know I’m a nerd, right? I love to study emerging science where our bodies and brains are concerned. We’re so complex that researchers literally learn new things about us all the time. One of the ongoing areas of study is fear contagion and how one person can pick up the fear of another so quickly and so intensely that they go into fight, flight, or freeze mode, matching the mode the other person exhibits. This is a survival impulse so hard-wired into our brains that we don’t even realize what we’re doing until the perceived emergency has passed. How do we feel the fear of another person? Turns out, we smell it at about the same time that we sense it in our gut. The other person emits pheromones which our noses sense, while at the same time receptors in our intestinal tract fire off what appear to be warnings to similar receptors in our brains. Next time you feel fear or anxiety and aren’t really sure what you’re afraid of, look around – if you’re in the company of a fearful person, you could be picking up on their fear, not your own. To ease that anxiety in yourself, remember what you’ve just learned, and maybe move away from that fearful person. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Do you lead a team? It could be a team at work, a group of volunteers, a family unit – no matter what kind of team leader you are, remember this: your team members are not you. Let me say that again – your team members are not you. This is an asset to the team, and I mean no disrespect to you when I tell you that. You have your unique set of skills, strengths, and passions. Guess what? Everyone on your team does, too, and theirs are not the same as your unique set. It’s very easy to expect others to react to things like we would, to solve problems like we would, and to have the same work ethic we do. They don’t. They’re not you or me. Instead of expecting them to think and act like you, discover their unique set of skills, strengths, and passions, and encourage them to use them. When people are encouraged to solve problems using their own abilities and enthusiasm, the whole team benefits. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Who are you? Are you the person your mother sees? The person your partner sees? The person your friends see? The person your boss sees? The correct answer is – none of the above. You are none of those people and yet you are pieces of all of those people. Everyone sees you through their own life experiences, their past interactions with you and others, and the mood they happen to be in at the moment they’re seeing you. They’re all catching glimpses of you, and yet not one single one of them knows who you really are. You are how you felt about each and every one of your life experiences. You are how you felt when your parents loved you and when they didn’t. You are how you processed life when you were a year old, 7 years old, 13 years old, and five minutes ago. You are not your body yet you are how you react to your body and use your body and feel about your body. You are the sum total of your experiences, how you felt about them, and what you learned from them. You are the definition of complicated and unique and wonderful. No one in your life knows who you are except you, and your knowledge is powerful. Don’t let anyone take that power away by telling you who you’re supposed to be. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Is it time to remind you about now again? It’s OK – most of us forget about how powerful now is because we have this lifelong habit of time-traveling. We travel backwards in time, remembering things that happened to us days, months, and sometimes even decades ago, trying to work out in our heads how things could have been different. We think that if we’d done things differently, our life today would be easier. We travel forwards in time, looking to the day when we finally…whatever…fill in the blank. Finally graduate, finally land our dream job, finally find the love of our life, finally have a house and family. We think that when the dream comes true, then we’ll actually be a success and deserve to be happy. Time traveling is detrimental to your success because it removes your attention from the only place in your life you have any power to do anything – right now. Now is when you can feel happiness. Now is when you can celebrate your success. Now is the only time in your life that you have any power to do anything at all. When you feel yourself time-traveling, pull yourself back to now and see what you’ve been missing. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

When you were 8, your attention and affection was easy to get and hold. A new toy, game, or maybe electronic gadget would make you delighted with the person who gave it to you and enthralled in the fun of discovery. You’re not 8 anymore, and what delighted you then may not delight you now. I know if someone handed me a dollhouse kit and offered to put it together with me, I’d be happy with the gesture and less than enthusiastic about dropping everything to build something I’ll never use. Now let’s think about relationships – friendships, family ties, and romantic partners. Haven’t those relationships needed to evolve as you have evolved, too? What we valued in a relationship at 8 has grown, morphed, and deepened as we’ve come to understand ourselves more…right? If you haven’t really thought about relationships this way before, give yourself ten minutes or so today to jot down how you’ve changed and grown emotionally since you were a child, and think about what the more mature you values in people now. Think about who you are now and how you can honor that person by expecting more from your family, friends, and romantic partners. You’ve grown…let your relationships grow and blossom, too. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Do you usually feel fairly confident in your ability to get through life? Fairly confident in the work you do, in the relationships you have, in the life you have? Or do you often feel anxious – anxious about your skills, the quality of your partnership, maybe even the direction your life is taking? Self-confidence is such an important attribute, yet few people focus on cultivating their sense of self, and this can gut your success in life, no matter how you define success. If you’re unsure of yourself, others will be unsure of you, too. If you don’t trust yourself, others won’t trust you, either. If you’re not confident in yourself, others won’t be confident in you either. You don’t have to be super-confident – fairly confident will do. When you’re feeling anxiety about doing something new, remember this: you’ve done new things every day of your life up to today, and you’ve succeeded at most of them. You might as well try this, too – at worst, you’ll learn how not to do it, and at best, you’ll succeed. Life is a win-win – get out there and confidently live it! Want more? Click herefor a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Are you feeling perfect today? Perfect in your look, perfect in your behavior, perfect in your knowledge, perfect in your whole life? No? Welcome to the real world, where no one is perfect and it’s OK. Are you feeling the need to feel perfect, or at least seem perfect to those around you? Yes? Welcome to the dungeon you’ve put yourself in, and only you hold the key to release yourself from it. In the real world, no one is perfect and it’s OK. If we were born knowing everything, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to learn. If we didn’t make mistakes, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to grow. So why do so many of us expect ourselves to be perfect? Because we want to make others happy and proud. Do you remember a time when someone asked for your help with something they didn’t know how to do, and how happy and proud you were to be able to help them learn? When you can remember to ask for help with something, you offer others that same happy and proud feeling. There are many ways to make others happy and proud with you and of you without making yourself crazy by trying to be perfect. Welcome to the real world, where no one is perfect and it’s perfectly OK. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Is there someone in your life who has to be there – a parent or a sibling or a boss – who behaves in a way that’s upsetting to you? It can be very hard to be around some people, especially when we feel there’s no way to not be around them, and still maintain a sense of wellbeing. You can do it, and it may take a lot of mental gymnastics to accomplish it. Your wellbeing is worth it, though, right? Here’s one way to help yourself feel better around challenging people: study them. Yep, pay attention to how they behave and make up stories in your head about how they learned to behave like that. For instance, if you have a co-worker who likes to make pointed remarks about your looks that feel like daggers to you, what if she had a parent who did that to her when she was growing up? How would you have felt to be 8 years old, delighted with the dress you had on, and hearing nothing but disapproval from the lips of someone you loved? Ouch, right? When you can make up a compassionate reason for your co-worker’s bad behavior, you can make it about them, not about you. And that feels so much better! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

This Tiny Bite is true in all kinds of situations. You’re not in control. You can’t control another person’s thoughts, feelings, or behavior. You can make them appear to be in compliance, and if they have to do what you tell them to do, they will. But if they’re doing it against their own judgement or wishes, they won’t be in your life very long, whether they’re an employee or a romantic partner. You can’t control their loyalty, either. That’s their gift to give to you, and they can take it away whenever they choose. You can’t control another person’s honesty. Heck, the people who raised us taught us to be selectively dishonest when we wanted to do something we knew they didn’t want us to do, and yet we didn’t want them to think badly of us or punish us. We did it anyway and found a stealthy way to hide it. You are in control of your own thoughts, feelings, and behavior. When you remember this and choose a clear, consistent, kind, way of treating people, you can inspire them to the best of who they can be in your life. That’s your control. Use it wisely. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Do you ever have days when you doubt yourself? When you feel like everything that can go wrong is going wrong and you’re powerless to make things go right? Hopefully you don’t have too many days like that, and hopefully it’ll help you feel better to know that we all have those kinds of days. On days like that, there are two things that can lift you out of the funk: your focus and your friends. And if you have the right friends, they can help you shift your focus. It’s normal to feel like you’re in a tailspin on bad days – brains are wired to show us the potential pitfalls of our thoughts and actions as a way to help us survive. You can over-rule your brain’s wiring system by shifting what you choose to focus on. Your brain wants to focus negatively. Stop and think about what would be a more positive way to focus. If you can go for a walk outside for ten minutes, do it, and let the fresh air and nature lift your spirits. If you have a friend who can usually be counted on for fun, call them. When life is dishing up a feeling of “down in the dumps” use your focus and your friends to lift your spirits back up where they belong. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Who has power in your life? For most of us, the answer isn’t very clear. We hope it’s us, and then we start thinking about the powerful others – the boss, the significant other, the mortgage company…! If you’re someone who does a lot of explaining, you’re giving your power away. For instance, if you’re late to a meeting and you apologize and explain that traffic was awful, you’ve just given your power away. Instead of explaining, try this instead – “Thank you for waiting.” You acknowledge your tardiness in a more powerful way, and it’s one that acknowledges the person or people who have waited for you. If you’re someone who holds grudges, you’re giving your power away to the people you resent. Instead of replaying that tired old movie in your head, continuing to feel justified in your hurt, anger, and resentment, try this instead – forgive them. You don’t have to tell them you forgive them, but as long as you let them dictate your feelings towards them, they have power over you. Forgive them, and let go of their power over you. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

When someone challenges you, argues with you, or is rude to you, how do you respond? Do you instantly volley back? Do you take a moment to think about the best thing to say? Do you – can you – look at them in silence? It’s true that a spoken reply is usually necessary, especially if it’s someone you deal with daily. Keeping the peace in a family, friendship, or work relationship is important, and it’s good to remember that keeping your personal dignity intact is important, too. When someone is talking to you or treating you in a way that is disrespectful or rude, remember this – silence is a very powerful response. It can be tough to stand silent, and from the other person’s point of view, it makes you look tough. Practice silence in the face of disrespect – it’s easier to begin with strangers, so when someone cuts you off in traffic, instead of getting angry and yelling at your windshield, get slightly stiff and completely silent. When someone makes a disparaging remark about your clothes or politics or other part of you that’s important to you, get slightly stiff and completely silent. Practicing this with strangers allows you to be ready when you need the silent treatment with a family member, friend, or co-worker. Silence is a very powerful response, and will make the offender less likely to take you on again. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Every day is a new and different day. I know – that sounds kind of like a “well, no duh!” statement, and on the surface, it is. Think about how you treat each day, though, and maybe it can help you see that statement at a deeper level. Most of us live a lot of our lives on autopilot – brains love patterns, so we allow our brains to run a lot of our day through the patterns of our lives. We sleep on the same side of the bed. We do things in the same order when we get out of bed in the morning. We move into the meat of our day without thinking about what might be ahead of us. We take for granted that today will be like yesterday, which was like the day before. What if you slept on the other side of the bed? What if you chose to add something to your morning routine to make it not so routine? What if you spent a few minutes anticipating what your day might hold, and thinking about what you hope will happen today? Every day is a new and different day, and every day is special, but only if you let it be. How can you let today be special for you? Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

When you were a child, what did you dream of being when you grew up? For most of us, those dreams changed a lot – 6-year-old you might have wanted to be a superhero, 8-year-old you wanted to be a police officer, and maybe 18-year-old you dreamed of medical school on your first day as an undergrad. How do you feel about those dreams now, and what do you want to be now? Can you think of your dreams as still coming true? Maybe you dreamed of becoming a veterinarian and now you’re a veterinarian, so you feel that you accomplished your dream and need another dream. Can you still think of yourself as “becoming a veterinarian” – becoming a better diagnostician, becoming a better surgeon, becoming a better leader of your team, becoming a better whatever piece of your profession that you like best? When you can hold your dreams up, examine them, and see how they fit – or don’t – in your current life, you remember that you do have dreams, and your dreams are important. Give yourself a few minutes today and ask yourself this: what do you dream of being now that you’re grown up? Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction

Do you lead a team, and someone on that team is struggling? Have you tried to coach them, only to see the struggle continue? Consider their personal financial life, because financial stress can have a significant impact on an employee's well-being and work performance. It might look like decreased productivity, anxiety, distractedness, poor relationships with co-workers, and even poor physical and mental health. When they’re struggling financially, they might be at the end of their resilience, meaning that anything else that feels stressful can cause lashing out or even walking off the job completely. You can help someone in financial stress by first considering it as a possibility, and then looking into resources your company or other organizations offer. Financial counselling, mental health resources, and flexible working arrangements could make the difference between keeping someone who was once valuable to the team and having to find someone to replace them. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #veterinarian #petindustry #wellbeing #leader #lawofattraction