Tiny Bites of Wagaliciousness

Brene Brown said, “All I know is that my life is better when I assume that people are doing their best. It keeps me out of judgement and lets me focus on what is, not what should or could be.” People are always doing the best they can do in that moment. Sometimes their best isn’t very good, and when you stop judging them for their bad behavior and remembering that, in that particular moment, they’re doing the best they can do, suddenly your life becomes much simpler. Assuming bad or devious motives means you’re fleshing out a movie where they’re the villain and you’re the victim. Ugh…who wants to star in a movie like that? Assume they’re doing the best they can do, given whatever is going on in their life – and you have no way to know what’s truly going on in their life – frees you from the dumb stories your brain wants to tell you and lets you get on with your fabulous life. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

This Tiny Bite is for leaders. This Tiny Bite is for parents. This Tiny Bite is for anyone who wants to help another being – human or otherwise – reach their full potential. This is highly technical information you’re about to receive, so listen carefully. This information, like everything we do at the Center for Workplace Happiness, is based on neuroscience, positive psychology and neuroplasticity theories and research. Are you ready? Ok – here you go – if you want someone to reach their full potential, treat them as if they’ve already achieved it. Seriously – listen to their words. Appreciate what they share with you. Give them opportunities to show you what they can do. When you treat someone like a novice who needs to smarten up, they rarely flourish because they spend their time second-guessing themselves. When you treat someone like a star, they become a star. Be a star-maker. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

You have been through tough times. You have had to overcome obstacles. You have felt held back and held down and locked out. How do I know these things? Because I have, too, and so has everyone else on this planet. We have so much more in common than most people realize, and feeling stuck or obstructed or misunderstood to the point of mistreated is part of the normal human condition. How is it that some people seem to said through troubles unscathed while others stay stuck in the unfairness and despair? Get set to roll your eyes – brain imaging and longitudinal research studies show conclusively that your mindset controls your outcome. When you can look at problems as puzzles to be worked instead of pain that’s been inflicted on you from some outside source, you’ve unlocked the pathway to a happier, more successful life. Go, you! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Where does wisdom come from? Life experience, including making mistakes you learned from, is a great way to gain wisdom. Some people in your life are like gardeners in your soul, seeding wisdom in you gently, patiently and with the knowledge that the seed they planted in you can enrich you for the rest of your life. My mom was wonderful at seeding wisdom – so wonderful, in fact, that my first book was all about that. (that link takes you to Amazon, where The Original MBA is available in paperback, ebook and audio book) And you plant wisdom, too, though maybe you don’t know it. Those things that come easily to you – so easily that you take them for granted – other people see you do and are in awe of your ability. When they learn from you, you’ve seeded wisdom. When you share an easier way to do something, you’ve seeded wisdom. By your good example you seed wisdom in even the smallest things you do. Every now and then, stop and marvel at how improved the world is, just because you are here. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

It’s not your job to make something go away in reality…it is your job to turn your focus to something you’d rather focus on. Wait…what? You heard right…there are very few things in life you’re actually in control of, so chances are, if you’re upset about something going on out in the world, you have minimal to no control over it. What you can control is your focus. If it’s something that’s very upsetting to you it can be tough to shift your focus, and yet, that’s the easiest way for you to create mental well-being. Let’s say something is happening in the world that feels very very very wrong to you. You can continue to focus on it, read all the news stories about it, post on social media about it and read everyone else’s social media posts, you can argue with the ones you don’t agree with…whew! How does that make you feel? Or you could realize that it has happened, you did what you could do to make it not happen and it happened anyway, and it will all be taken care of and work out in the long run. And then you can choose to focus on something else. When the anger starts to well up inside you, sing a song, either inside your head or right out of your mouth – you can’t be angry and singing at the same time. Here's a song suggestion – Let it go, let it gooooooo… Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Maybe you’ve heard the saying “time heals all wounds.” Maybe you’ve even had the experience of feeling better about something not-optimal after a certain amount of time has passed. And maybe you know someone who seems to never heal from their not-optimal experience. Or maybe you are that person on a topic or two. When Mom died, it took a very long time for me to remember the good times, not her end-times. That means it took a very long time for me to let those wounds heal. It was like I was mentally picking at a scab – I wouldn’t let the healing happen because I wanted my mommy. I had to learn to forgive death – literally! – in order to move on and hold on to the cherished memories instead of the pain of loss. Quit picking at scabs inside your brain. If something hurts, feel the hurt, love the hurt, forgive the hurt and move on. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Pay attention to the words you say and the tone of voice you use when saying them. Who is coming out of your mouth? A dear friend occasionally says something to me that feels very judgmental and sharp. For instance, I’m old enough to be growing a random hair on my neck now and then and apparently had one. My friend said, “what is that growing out of your throat” like it was an indictment of my soul. Ouch. Later, when my wounded feelings weren’t in charge, I asked her who used that tone of voice with her. Yep…her mother. It was an eye-opening experience for her and a learning experience for me. Now, when her mother’s words and tone accidentally slip out and are pointed at me, I understand that it’s not meant to hurt me. And because my friend is aware of it, her mother’s words and tone are slipping out of her lips less and less these days. So, who’s words and tone come out of your mouth without you being aware of it? Once you recognize that it’s not yours, it becomes easier to let you and your caring heart come out instead.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Control of others isn’t possible. They may make you think you control them for a while, but you don’t. You don’t control their thoughts and you don’t control their feelings. Just as you can’t make someone love you if they don’t love you, you can’t make someone admire you if they don’t admire you. You might be able to boss them around, and that will cause them to feel resentment, not positive feelings towards you. Maybe your parents were heavy-handed in trying to control you – remember how that made you feel? Please don’t make others feel that way about you, too. When you’re leading a staff, lead with your heart. Help them be their own best selves, not reflections of who you want them to be. They’ll love you for it. Hey, maybe you CAN control others.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Playing small – trying to be whatever the people around you want you to be in that moment, instead of being what you want to be – guts your feeling of self-worth, your feeling of confidence and your mental well-being. When you try to be what others want you to be, you’re constantly at the mercy of their whims, their moods and their needs. What about your whims, your moods, and your needs? You have this one life that you’re walking through – do what you need you to do. Do what makes you happy. Follow your own intuition and stop relying on others to tell you what they need you to do. Your mental wellbeing depends on it!  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

High achievers often struggle with overwhelm and imposter syndrome. Let me say that again and say it better this time – high achievers like you often struggle with overwhelm and imposter syndrome. You’ve been driving yourself since you were a child – to get high grades, to take tough classes, to push through until you achieved your goal and then to feel like that goal wasn’t good enough, so you set an even tougher one. Sound familiar? It does to me, too – that’s how I was and still work to not be. Finding balance in life isn’t only about a work-life balance, it’s about a more balanced view of who you are and what you need. You need to rest. You need to take time off. You need to do what feeds your soul. You need to remember that your needs are your first priority. When you do that, you’re less likely to be sick, to be burned out, or to go down dark mental pathways. Take your foot off the gas – give yourself 15 minutes a day that’s just for you and your physical, mental and spiritual self. For a great way to start the process of taking care of you, click here for The Mind, Body, Spirit Sessions podcast.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

As we go through life, we collect painful experiences. Everyone does, and everyone processes the pain differently. Some people just stash it in the back of their brain and forget it, until something happens that triggers the painful memory. Some people examine the experience and find a satisfying way to fit it into the big picture of their lives. And some people continue to feel the pain of those painful experiences every day. Which category do you fall into? If you feel the pain of past experiences often, here’s something you can do that might help: Whenever the bad memories and the bad feelings that go with the experience pop into your head, start playing the part of the director of a Hollywood movie. Every time you remember the experience, pretend it was a movie you saw instead of something you experienced. Smell popcorn – hear the dramatic music – maybe even add comical elements to help lighten up your feelings about what happened. When you can do this every time that bad thing pops into your head, you can shift the power it has over you. How do I know? This is exactly what I’ve done to ease the pain of my own past experiences. Neuroplasticity is a marvelous thing – reshape a memory to remove its power over your life.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Does your brain keep chewing on something that’s outside of your ability to change? I remember when Dad was in the final stages of Alzheimer’s and my brothers and I made the difficult decision to take away his car keys. I bought his car, and though he was OK with it at first, he came to believe that I stole his car. He began to look at me with hatred in his eyes and the last time I saw him he was yelling at me to get out of his hospice room. Did it sting? Yes. Did I internalize his anger at me? No, because his brain was broken. He wasn’t able to process things clearly, and I was. I could have let his anger chew on me and upset me. Instead, even though it hurt when he glared accusingly, I reminded myself that it wasn’t his rational brain in charge, it was his broken one, and it made the only connection it could. I didn’t let my brain keep chewing on the unfairness of his disease and the pain it was causing me. I couldn’t change it, so I loved him and loved myself enough to let the rest go. Who do you need to love like that today? What do you need to remind your brain to let go of?  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

When it feels an injustice has been done to you, how does it make you feel? Whether it’s a small injustice like someone taking a parking space you were headed for or a large injustice like feeling judged over something outside of your control, that feeling of injustice is you, taking the behavior of others personally. That idea might make you angry at me, and I promise not to take that personally. Much of the time what feels like injustice to us is really just the other person going about their life. They probably didn’t see you waiting for the parking space, and even if they did, so what? You could get all cave-man territorial over it, and what will that get you except anger? Make yourself feel better – let it go. When someone judges you over something you have no responsibility for or control over, you could defend yourself or post on social media about the injustice done to you, and what will that get you except anger? Their ignorant behavior (and it is IGNORANT behavior) is about them, not about you…unless you make it about you. When you do that, you’re doing an injustice to yourself. Let it go. If you let every perceived injustice get under your skin you’re going to have a pretty miserable life. Make yourself feel better – let it go.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

The first place where your dream can become a reality is in your imagination. What do you want? I want to live near the beach, and if we’re Facebook friends you see all the posts about the beach that I share. That’s me, imagining my dream and sharing the pictures. When will it become a reality? When it fits easily and seamlessly into my life. What do you want, and can you enjoy your dream until it fits easily and seamlessly into your life, too? Because the sure-fire way to keep your dream from becoming a reality is to doubt it and refuse to imagine it because you don’t want to be disappointed. When you play with your dream in your imagination, you’ll have the feeling of living your dream each time you do it. So go head…let your imagination loose to play with your dreams, and watch them become reality in the most delightful ways!  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Have you ever worked with someone who pushes your buttons? Whether purposefully or not, when someone sets you off, it’s at least as much your issue as it is theirs. First, the buttons are yours – why are you leaving them lying around for other people to push? Second, a wonderful way to remain calm in the presence of someone who pushes your buttons is to mentally create a beautifully painted wall between you. When you’re not around that person, imagine a beautiful wall. Make it a beautifully painted wall, decorated with all of your favorite colors and images. Make that wall high and wide and wonderful and imagine it in great detail. If there are bricks, see the mortar between them and the small imperfections that make each brick unique. Revel in the beauty of the wall and spend time there often. Then, when you have to be around the button-pusher, remember the wall. Think about it before you meet with the person, putting it firmly in place so you can examine the details instead of reacting to whatever they may say to you. When you can teach yourself not to react, the button pusher will have no power over you and will eventually stop reaching for your buttons.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Do you know someone who is very judgmental? Maybe they voice unflattering opinions about women who carry expensive handbags or people who drive a large vehicle or the neighbors who have a car that doesn’t move very often? They have an opinion about everyone and it’s most often not a very nice one? When someone behaves like that, it’s about them, not about the person they’re judging. It gives you a glimpse into their early life and what they were taught, either intentionally or unintentionally. It’s likely they don’t even know they’re making snap judgments about people – it’s become their default behavior. If it’s someone you deal with on a daily basis, like a team member or family member, you can help them see themselves as others do, and help them make a change for the better. When they say something like, “Her purse probably cost as much as my house payment…she thinks she’s so special!” you can chime in and say, “Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to easily buy a purse like that?” or “Maybe she just likes it.” or “Wow, you got all that anger just from her purse?” Keep your tone light and fun and do it every time you hear something judgmental coming out of their mouth. They’ll either make a healthy change in the way they look at things or they’ll be quiet around you. Either way, you don’t have to deal with all the negativity.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Is there someone in your life who goes off unpredictably, sometimes spewing anger and resentment at you? Yeah, that happens to us all at some point in our lives. Sometimes it’s a person you can avoid being around, and sometimes it’s a co-worker or family member. Yikes…what then? That’s when I want you to don your placid cow persona. There’s someone I have to be around fairly often who is very insecure, and that insecurity manifests as aggressive defensiveness. No amount of soothing will derail this person when that behavior starts – those of us in the vicinity just have to wait it out and hope the verbal barrage isn’t pointed at us. When something like this happens to you, maybe what I do can help you, too. Make it a game – imagine that you’re a beautiful cow, standing in a lush green pasture, chewing your cud under a sunny, cloudless sky. Your mouth is closed, your eyes are soft and you are 100% focused on your little piece of paradise. When you don your placid cow persona, you’re not reacting to the person’s craziness. You’re not participating with them, which will almost always make them stop acting out. Practice your placid cow persona whenever something irritating is happening, and when you’re faced with that especially difficult person it’ll be easier to go to your happier place…placid cow…placid cow…placid cow…  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Practicing an old belief keeps you in a box. People believe that their beliefs are true, when in fact, a belief is just a thought you keep thinking. That’s the way your brain works – once you’ve thought the same thought a lot, it becomes a hard-wired thought in your brain. You don’t analyze it, and often it feels like the thought could actually be thinking itself without your help. It has become a belief and you behave accordingly. What if that belief limits who you are and how you live your life? Practicing an old belief keeps you in a box that you’ll stay in for the rest of your life unless you examine it and decide whether to continue to believe it. Once in a while, examine what you believe. If it feels like a belief that limits you in ways you don’t want to be limited, reject it and replace it with a better belief. How? There are lots of ways – click the link below for a free course that includes step-by-step instructions.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

When you’re alone, how do you feel? Anxious? Edgy? Contented? Many people find being alone to be stressful. Others get stressed when they spend too much time surrounded by others. People who are on the introverted end of the introversion/extroversion scale find that being alone allows them to recharge and feel refreshed. People who are on the extroverted end of the scale need to be around people in order to recharge and feel refreshed. There’s no right or wrong way to feel about being alone – it’s good to understand whether people feed your energy or sap your strength so you can choose what you need when you need it. Make space in your life to recharge, whether that’s alone time or people time. Honor what you need so you can feel better and function better whether you’re alone or in a crowd.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Albert Einstein didn’t say “Don’t wait for miracles – your whole life is a miracle.” His name is taken in vain on thousands of memes all over the internet. No matter who created that beautiful little sentence, it’s true. Your whole life IS a miracle. You started off as a tiny dot in a warm, dark place and have turned into the accomplished, talented, beautiful human being you are. You wake up every day and have the opportunity to choose how you’ll feel about what you do. You have an arsenal of things at your disposal to use to mold the events of your day. Your body works to the limits of its abilities, which are different from the abilities of others and that’s OK and exactly as it should be. You are unique. No one else is the combination of experiences, thoughts, feelings, and DNA that you are. Your whole life is a miracle because you are a miracle. Own your miraculousness and go have an Albert Einstein kind of day!  (Maybe with better hair!) Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

You may have heard part of what Albert Camus said in his insightful musings about life – the part most often quoted is, “In the midst of winter I found within me an invincible summer.” I want you to take in the entire quote because there is such power in it’s clear-eyed optimism: “My dear, In the midst of hate, I found there was, within me, an invincible love. In the midst of tears, I found there was, within me, an invincible smile. In the midst of chaos, I found there was, within me, an invincible calm. I realized, through it all, that…In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger – something better, pushing right back.” Sometimes I forget that – you, too? Save this Tiny Bite for future reference, to remind you of the awesome power inside you.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

You are the author of your life. Every time you get out of bed, you begin creating that day of your life. Every decision you make through that day informs the direction your day and your life will flow. When you allow things from the past to crowd your mind, you don’t allow your creative brain to explore the possibilities of the present. Think about a book – can you ever make it to the end of the book if you keep re-reading the same page? If you’re not already, it’s time to get intentional about not re-living the same day of your life. You are the author of your life. This could sound daunting and frightening, or powerful and exciting. Can you find the powerful, exciting feeling of it? Can you find the powerful, exciting feeling of you? It’s in there – you in your power – you are in there. You are the author of your life and now you hold the pen. What will you write today?  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

You’re having a stressful day. You’ve been goinggoinggoing since you walked in the door. People have been grouchy or downright rude. Cases have been puzzling. You haven’t had a break and you feel like you’re about to break. Here’s your science-based stress-busting solution. Go outside. If it’s not pouring down rain, go outside. Even if it’s overcast and the skies look moody, go outside. Take a ten-minute break outside at least once each day. The fresh air and rays of the sun – even when you can’t see them – boost your dopamine levels and lower your stress levels. Congratulate yourself before you go back in for using science to improve your day.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Do you feel stuck on the path to wherever you were planning to go? Often, we choose goals for ourselves that make a lot of sense and once accomplished, the results don’t feel as fulfilling as we expect. That’s common, and there are two possibilities – one, maybe you’re just in that space between goals. Explore the possibilities for where you can go now that you’ve achieved the last big goal. The other possibility is that you pursued a goal that wasn’t really yours. Maybe you thought you had to achieve the goal because of your parents’ prodding or the expectations of others whose opinion you valued. Value your own opinion – if the place you’re standing doesn’t feel right to you, it’s OK to move to a new place. Not only OK but mandatory for your mental well-being. Your life is for you, not for anyone else. Don’t stay in a stuck place that’s not yours – listen to your heart, follow that path, and find your true success.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

No one can see past their own expectations. This is neuroscience in action – have you ever had this happen? You buy a new car and suddenly you see your car everywhere – maybe a different color, but it’s the same car you just chose. That’s your brain, reinforcing your decision to buy that car. There are far too many things around you that your brain notices for you to take them all in, so your brain concentrates on the ones it feels are most relevant to you. So if you expect – even at a nearly unconscious level – that traffic will be bad, then you’ll notice the places where you have to slow down. If you expect – even at a nearly unconscious level – that the person at the counter will be grouchy, your brain will help you choose the grouchy person to deal with. What you expect out of your day and your life, your brain will do its best to deliver to you. Expect the best – you deserve it, and your brain will help you get it.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

We’re told that nobody likes a quitter. We’re questioned sharply if we set a goal, achieve that goal and then decide it was the wrong goal to start with. Often we’re blamed if a relationship goes south, being told that we didn’t do enough or work hard enough or give enough of ourselves. That’s what I was told when my 30-year marriage ended because the wasband decided he’d rather have a girlfriend than a wife. The people who condemned me for the end of the marriage didn’t know the ins and outs of my life, just like no one knows the ins and outs of your life. If you feel like you need a career change, then do what you need to do. If you feel like you need a relationship change, then you do what you need to do. We have this one life, as far as we know, and living in a way that encourages and promotes mental well-being means to do what feels right to you, for you. And if that means quitting, quit. What anyone else thinks is none of your business because they don’t know your life and your heart.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Do you ever get that overwhelmed feeling? Where you have so many things that have to be done and it feels like you’ll never get any of it done right? And then you feel the stress building, and the iceberg in the pit of your stomach? Stop. That’s your brain on overload, completely forgetting in that moment how to cope with life. You can take over for your brain – remember, even when you have a lot to do, the only way to get any of it done is one thing at a time. Focus on one thing, do it, then focus on the next. And if that feels impossible, take a few long, slow, deep breaths – then focus on one thing, do it, then focus on the next. Lose yourself in the accomplishment of one thing at a time and that overwhelmed feeling will be lost, too.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

It’s very human to believe that once something happens, then you can feel good about yourself. You hold the achievement of a goal out in front of yourself like a carrot, promising yourself that you’ll be happy once you’ve … fill in the blank. Gotten into the right school. Found the love of your life. Had a baby. Bought a house. Have a certain amount of money in the bank. It’s very human to promise yourself that those life events will be what creates the happiness and fabulous life you desire. And I’m here to tell you that you’re lying to yourself. Because when you get the … fill in the blank … you’re in a whole new place of uncertainty, growth opportunities and even some stress. Then, it’s very human to believe that once the next thing happens, then you can feel good about yourself. Please understand that when you keep lying to yourself you never create the real happiness you have access to right this very minute. If you’re stuck in this loop, click the link in the show notes and get started on the Happiness is an Inside Job. It’s free, and it’s priceless.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

How do you define yourself? Have you ever thought of what you think of you? Take an uninterrupted 15 minutes or so and write down words you hear your brain say about you. Then see if you can find a gentler, kinder, more loving way to say the same thing. For example, I remember sitting at the back of the 4th grade classroom after moving from German to Georgia, the new kid in the class once again, feeling like all the kids were staring at me, judging me and not liking me. I decided I must not be good enough to be their friend. What if, instead of deciding I wasn’t good enough, I had been excited about meeting new friends and learning what we had in common? Can you feel how much kinder and more fun that would have been? Can you do that same exercise for yourself? If your brain tells you things like “you’re not smart enough” talk back to it and say “I enjoy the process of learning new things.” Reframe the words you allow your brain to say to you and watch how much less stress you feel all day every day.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Throughout life, well-meaning people warn us. They say we can’t, and we shouldn’t, and we’d best be careful. They tell us to beware and behave and be quiet. They tell us it’s never been done before and can’t be done now, and certainly not by you. These people usually don’t mean to scare you, they’re trying to help you not make the same mistakes they made. They want you to be safe. They want you to be acceptable to society. They want you to be who they think you are. They are not you, and they are not in control of your life unless you let them be. Smile sweetly at the people who warn you, and understand they want the best for you. Your best for you is way better than their best for you. Go live your best life, not theirs.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

You are a person who likes to help others. You are a natural peace-maker. You are someone who tries hard to not have to say “no” to any request made of you. Guess what – you are gutting your own mental wellbeing. Making yourself uncomfortable so others can feel good isn’t good for you. You are a person who likes to help others. Remember that you are also “others” and help yourself. You are a natural peace-maker. Remember that your own peace is your priority. You’re someone who tries hard to not have to say “no” to any request made of you. “No” is a complete sentence. You don’t need to explain yourself or make excuses – practice saying “no” and then clamping your lips shut. If you want to cushion the blow that “no” feels like to you, then add, “I’m sorry, but I can’t.” Don’t explain. Just learn to say “no” for your own mental health and well-being.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Sometimes people try to control you by telling you to be less – less loud, less forceful, less boisterous. Less. Those people might be your family members, your spouse, your friends, your co-workers, or strangers in the next aisle at the grocery story. They probably mean well, and maybe they love you. And you’re a caring person who often goes along to get along. You still don’t have to listen to them and change who you are to be more like who they think you should be in that moment. Just because they can’t take all of you doesn’t mean you’re too much – you’re just right. Don’t contort yourself to try to fit in. The world needs you – all of you, in your loud, forceful boisterousness. Be you – be the total you, even if it’s sometimes too much for some people.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Do you ever have times when you feel like what you do doesn’t really matter? That’s not a good way to feel, and it’s the sort of thoughts that feed on themselves – when you’re feeling worthless, your brain will find more evidence of your worthlessness, and nobody needs to hear any of that. First of all, it isn’t true. You make a difference every single day of your life, in ways you may never know. Did you ever help a new mother lift her stroller up over a curb? She probably thinks of you now and then and is warmed by the memory of your kindness. Did you ever hug someone who seemed like they were so stressed out they might burst into tears? Your caring nature might have pulled them back from the brink. Were you ever kind to a person who, in that moment, was being anything but kind to you? You gave them an example of how they could behave, and you may have inspired them to do better next time. Have you done those kinds of things countless times in your life? Of course you have, and you took your actions for granted. The other person didn’t. You touched their life in a positive way. You make a difference every day. A lot of them. Remember that the next time you’re tempted to wallow in a pool of unworthiness. The world is literally better with you in it…thank you for all you do!  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Are you feeling fear? Doubt? Like maybe you’re not up to the challenge? Welcome to the club. It’s normal to feel anxious about things now and then, especially when it’s something you don’t do all the time. Use a neuroplasticity tool to calm your fears and doubts and feelings of not-enoughness. When there’s something you’re facing that’s causing the anxiety, look for ways to boost your confidence about it. Maybe you’ve done something similar in the past – if so, remind yourself that you succeeded, learned and grew from that accomplishment, just as you will from this one. Maybe you’ve never done anything like it, and have always wanted to, but now that it’s about to be a reality for you, the doubts are creeping in. Remind yourself that it’s something you’ve wanted to do and you’ll have a great story to tell once you’ve done it. Maybe it’s something you’ve never wanted to do and don’t want to do now. If possible, opt out. There is no shame in not doing something you don’t want to do. If it’s not for you, be honest and be proud of yourself for standing up for yourself bravely.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

No matter how many different ways you hear that forgiveness is good for you, you might still think that there are some people who don’t deserve your forgiveness. The concept of good and evil is drilled into us in so many ways from before we take our first tottering steps. The adults around us model unforgiveness and holding grudges and use language that subtly – or sometimes not so subtly – lets us know that there are dire consequences for misbehaving. We see others not forgiving and talking about not forgiving and so we think it must be ok or good or even admirable to never forgive certain people for certain things. A healthier way to look at so-called unforgivable behavior is this – when you forgive someone for something they did, you put them on notice that they’re not in charge of your emotions. They don’t control you because of what they did to you. You control you. You choose how you feel and what you focus on. Forgiveness gives you the tools to walk away, because if you’re still angry and vengeful, then the person who did you wrong is still in control of you and your emotions. And you don’t want that, right?  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Remember the problems you had in high school, and how earth-shattering they felt? Looking back, they feel kind of trivial now, don’t they? The nightmares about forgetting your locker combination or how to get to homeroom.  The drama of deciding on a center or side part in your hair. And heaven forbid that you show up in the wrong brand of sneakers or jeans! At the time those problems felt so real, and now, looking back, you realize they were just stumbling blocks you gave yourself. Guess what? The problems of today are just like the rest of the problems in your life – they may feel huge and insurmountable right now, but once you’ve moved through them, learned and grown, you’ll one day look back and wonder why they felt so big. Life is long…perspective is a gift…and you’re doing just fine.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Do you see other people who seem happy and confident and think they’re so much luckier than you? You’re only seeing what they choose to show you. You don’t see their dark moments…you don’t feel their feelings of confusion, helplessness or despair. The strongest people don’t show you those feelings, and yet they still have them. They’re not lucky or living under the right stars or any more blessed than you are. They’re strong. Quietly strong. They have faith in their ability to weather their storms. They may have a friend or family member they can rely on to listen and care. Do you have faith in your ability to weather the storms in your life? Do you have one person you could say anything to and they would still love you? Then you have everything you need, you lucky person, you!  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Don’t let your biases get in the way of your results. The scientific method has been in use since the 1600’s and it works like this – make an observation, form a hypothesis, gather information, make a prediction, conduct experiments, then analyze the results as they pertain to the hypothesis. Adjust as necessary to come to an untainted conclusion about the topic. When you go into a conversation with someone and you’re already upset with them, you’re a human being – you probably will let your biases get in the way of your results. If you want to gain understanding, consensus and maybe even behavior change, use the scientific method. Observe your feelings, hypothesize the outcome you desire from the upcoming conversation, gather information about the problem from as many sources as possible, including sources that might prove you wrong, decide in your head how the conversation should go and then go have it. When you can get your biases out of the way, you’ll be amazed how much better difficult conversations will be!  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Actress Sandra Bullock said, “You have to dance a little bit in the morning before you leave the house because it changes the way you walk out in the world.” Dancing lightens your mood, literally puts a skip in your step and floods your body with endorphins and dopamine. When those feel-good hormones are coursing through your veins, you’ll feel invincible as well as loving and happy. So instead of making a mad dash to the car, dreading traffic and stressing about everything that has to get done today, dance a little bit. Then go take on the day!  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

At the end of the day today, look back at what you accomplished. Look at the things you finished, the things you set into motion, the feelings you soothed, the misunderstandings you straightened out…look at everything you took part in today. One by one, think of what you had to know to get through each event, to finish each item, and to make plans for someday. Appreciate your talents, your tact, your skills and your caring heart. And for those things that didn’t feel like they went quite right, remind yourself that they’re exactly as they should be, no matter what the outcome was. Nearly everything is outside of your control, so remember not to beat yourself up over things you couldn’t change. Celebrate your successes – even the little ones. And tomorrow, pay attention to the things you accomplish, set into motion, and the interpersonal issues you soothed and improved, and celebrate yourself in those moments. That’s how you move from simply surviving into living and thriving.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

The brain learns in stories, and it learns so well in stories that before you’re 10 years old, your brain is creating it’s own stories in order to explain the world in a way that makes sense to you. This is how those wild conspiracy theories come about…people look at the same information you have and come to a completely different conclusion. That makes brain sense because they’ve lived a completely different life than you have. They’ve been exposed to different opinions and biases, they’ve lived through different events, or through the same large world events from a different vantage point, and it only makes sense that they could come to a different conclusion. Before you condemn someone or try to make them understand your point of view, remember – their brain learns in stories, just like yours does. And their brain creates stories that make sense to them, based on their life experiences, just like yours does. No matter how wild their conclusion may seem to you, remember that it feels right to them. It’s this diversity of opinions that keeps life interesting, as long as you don’t use it as an opportunity to argue your own point of view all the time.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Want to know the secret of helping your life get better and better? Let circumstances teach you. Learn to control your words, actions, and feelings by observing how others respond to you in all your moods. Learn to let go of trying to control the uncontrollable by noticing the feeling of frustration and futility you get when you feel out of control. Learn to let things roll off your back by learning to make up the best possible scenario stories inside your head instead of the worst. What does that mean? When someone cuts you off in traffic, do you automatically jump to the conclusion that they’re a jerk? What if, instead, you jumped to the conclusion that they didn’t see you and isn’t it great for both of you that you’re such a great driver. See how much better that feels?  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Have you ever been having a bad day, and someone looked you in the eye and smiled at you? Maybe it was a stranger who saw you and connected with you in a positive way? Remember how that felt? Maybe you got a warm feeling in your solar plexus, or maybe you were surprised and a little giddy. Maybe you even got goosebumps, our body’s way of reminding us that we’re connected to each other in unseen ways. When someone you love, or work with or maybe just walk past is looking glum, give them that same feeling that you had. See them…appreciate them…smile at them. Give them faith in humankind, one sweet soul at a time. And you know that feeling you felt? Warmth in your chest, or giddy or goose-bumpy? You’ll give yourself that same feeling, too.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

When you look in the mirror, are you hard on yourself? Do you bemoan a few extra pounds or wrinkles or grey hairs? Do you feel “less than” when you contemplate how you show up in the world? We’ve talked about the body’s second brain – that very smart part of us that lives in the intestinal tract and deals with our emotions as well as our food. It is postulated, though not conclusively proven yet, that the “gut reaction” we’re all familiar with is indeed a response of our second brain to what’s going on around us. You know how you can feel that someone is sad or angry or happy, even when you can’t see it on their face? Others can feel you, too. If you’re down on yourself, others feel it and may use those feelings to form their opinion of you. On the other hand, if you’re flying high, confident and happy, others feel it and may use those feelings to form their opinion of you. How do you want others to feel about you? Use their second brain to your advantage – practice feeling good about yourself and help others feel good about you, too.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

At the end of the day, do you often feel exhausted, mentally or physically? There’s an adage that says, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” Let’s pretend you’re the cup – you pour yourself out for others all day, every day. You may take care of family members, your pets, your clients, your team members, your friends, your impressive to-do list…and who takes care of you? The reason you often feel exhausted is because you are. You’re doing so much for so many others that you have nothing left in your cup at the end of the day. You’ve poured yourself all out. You must take care of yourself – that’s how your cup gets filled. If you don’t already have a mind/body/soul routine, it’s time for you to start one so your cup can feel as full at the end of the day as it does at the beginning. To jump-start yours, consider starting your day with the Mind, Body, Soul Sessions – 15 minutes to fill your cup for the day. Click here to learn more.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Face it, we all have off days. Sometimes I can be walking my dogs in a beautiful park, hearing birds sing, feeling the breeze on my skin and enjoying the fragrance of blooming trees and still get crabby if one of the dogs pulls too hard. Can you relate? When you’re a bit on edge and maybe a bit snappy with others, it’s easy to beat yourself up over it. Resist that temptation. Be kind to yourself instead. Especially on days when it feels like nothing is going right, it’s important to stop, take a breath, and stop that negative self-talk inside your skull. Be kind to yourself. You’re doing the best you can. The best part about an off day is that it’s limited. There are only 24 hours and you’ll get to hit the reset button by sleeping between today and tomorrow. And tomorrow will be better.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Are you a team leader and want to inspire your team? There are a lot of leadership coaches who’ll tell you to always present a strong, confident face to your team. I disagree. Let them see you struggle. Let them see you fail. Let them see you dust yourself off and try again. Let them see you being human, admitting your foibles, asking for help and triumphing. When you think about it, doesn’t the hero of every great story have a mission, go through tough times, and yet we root for their success and cheer for them when things turn out right? Be that boss. Be the one the team rallies around, roots for and will follow through the fire. Be that leader.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Do you ever wish you were more…something? Better at tennis, like your friend Sally. Better at spays, like your classmate Emily. Better at public speaking, like your co-worker Evelyn? Taller? Slimmer? Different hair? Stop! Stop and imagine what a boring place this life would be if everyone was great at the same things, looked the same and there was literally no diversity? Where would new ideas come from? Where would new understanding come from? Where would personal, professional and global growth come from? It’s in our differences that we inspire each other. Celebrate your excellent skills and don’t worry about things you can’t change about yourself. Discover your excellence – set your days up to enable you to use your excellence – and save time in your day to get better at something you’d like to achieve excellence in.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

Today I got mad at someone and then realized I needed to be mad at me. Someone expected me to drop everything and take care of their mess. Why did I need to be mad at me? Because up until today, I hadn’t given this person any boundaries. I like them, I like helping them and today there was one just request too many. Giving people we care about boundaries is hard – it doesn’t come naturally and it goes against our desire to build communities and be of service. And yet, boundaries are necessary because otherwise you’re disrespecting yourself, your time and your needs. Think about someone in your life who might be taking things a step or two too far with you – is it time for you to set a boundary, too? When you do, it will either end your relationship with this person or improve it. If it ends, you’ll understand that they were just interested in what you could do for them. My bet is that it will improve how the two of you communicate, because it’ll level your playing field.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction

You can’t worry about someone and love them at the same time. Worry is focusing on the weakness you see in that person, and when you’re looking at their weaknesses – which we all have! – you’re not loving them. To a lot of people, worry feels like love, but loving someone is choosing to focus on what’s right about them and what’s right in their life, not what’s wrong. What you focus on is what you see – if you’re used to worrying about things and people, just for today try to catch yourself worrying and shift your focus. Focus on what’s good about them and their situation. Sometimes you have to be creative and intentional in order to see good in a less-than-optimal situation. Use your powerful brain…shift your focus…and love that situation or person. Everyone involved will benefit from your more positive outlook, especially you.  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job" #podcast #vetlife #veterinarian #vethospital #vettech #notonemorevet #wellbeing #success #leadership #leader #lawofattraction