Tiny Bites of Wagaliciousness

Want to have a great day today and another one tomorrow? Want a whole string of great days? Start each day with the intention of loving everyone you deal with. Everyone. Some people are tough to love, for sure – for those people, stay out of the details of who they are and remind yourself that they’re just doing the best they can do in the moment. Love them anyway, and before you know it, the best they can do in the moment will probably start getting better. At our core, we’re all creatures of love – we want to love and have had it trained out of us. Remember that you are love and you can choose to love even the most unlovable person. You’re human, too, so you may have to remind yourself more than just once a day, and that’s ok. Just love – that takes care of so much. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Has your day been challenging so far? Do you feel like, no matter what you do, it’s going to turn out wrong? Can you give yourself about one minute for an attitude adjustment? When it feels like everything is a struggle, it’s easy to fall into the mindset that everything’s going to be a struggle going forward, and that is something you have control over. When you give yourself one minute to reframe and refocus, you’re giving yourself the opportunity to create a better outcome. Stop focusing on what’s gone wrong so far today – it’s done, it’s in the past and you have no power to change it. Focus on right now and the very next thing on your schedule. Really focus. And breathe. Inhale your talent, exhale your stress. Remind yourself that you’re in control of only you – and that’s great news! Now, go take on your next thing, free of the angst of today’s earlier challenges. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

If you have a staff that squabbles often, that’s bad for your mental wellbeing. It makes you not want to walk through those doors in the morning, especially if settling the squabbles falls on your shoulders. Try this – create a Word document with every staffer’s name on it, in a column with as much space between the names as possible. Print a copy of the list for each person on the team. At your next all-hands meeting or lunch, hand them out and tell everyone to write one nice thing about every person on the sheet – using their non-dominant hand. You collect the sheets and create gift bags – one for each team member – with the nice things people wrote about them in the bag. Ahhhhhh…hurt feelings eased, at least for a while. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Unless you have very thick skin, let someone else in your hospital be in charge of social media posts and reviews. People post things without thinking about the fact that there are living, breathing, feeling human beings who worked with them to help their pet. They just get a bee in their bee-hind about something and vent, because it’s what they do. Then their friends, in a misguided show of support and friendship, pile on. Don’t look. Don’t participate. Let your hospital manager or other trusted team member be the person who posts proactively and responds appropriately to posts. And ask them to share the good ones with you – you deserve to read how awesome you are! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Give yourself the gift of comfort while you work. Place padded mats or padded rugs in areas where you stand for long periods of time. Purchase and use an ergonomically correct and comfortable chair for your office. These things may sound frivolous and they’re not – they’re the tools you need to do your job well. You need a good surgery table to perform surgery, and a good x-ray machine to take good x-rays. You need a well-stocked pharmacy to treat patients with many different ailments. And you need tools to keep you comfortable as you do the very physical job of being a veterinarian. Give yourself what your body needs so you can do your best work. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Have you added a virtual component to your hospital’s offerings yet? Offering follow-up and triaging appointments virtually is a convenient way to work more patients in without having to extend the length of your hospital hours. An experienced technician can virtually assess healing of a surgery site or wound, can reassure a nervous and inexperienced owner with a video triage of symptoms to assess whether the pet needs to be seen or not, and all of this makes your clients feel more connected and cared for. And when they feel good, they treat you and your staff better! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Communication is the backbone to successful teams and successful businesses. When communication is clear, complete and plentiful, misunderstandings are far less likely to happen. When you and your team members talk to each other as equals, with respect for what each person brings to the success of the hospital, turnover drops. When you and your clients talk to each other as team members in the care of their pet, referrals happen. And when your internal voice reminds you how good you are at veterinary medicine and leading a team, you and the hospital thrive. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

It’s probably not about you. Don’t make it about you inside your mind. When someone tees off on you, no matter what the topic, what they’re saying to you at the most basic level is that they’re having a bad day and taking it out on you. Don’t respond right away, and maybe not at all. And don’t take it personally. They’re going to vent, so let them get it out. Keep a placid look on your face and pretend your lips have super glue on them. When they stop, they’ll either stomp out or look at you for a response. If you have something soothing you can say honestly, say it. If you’re their supervisor, tell them the two of you will talk privately once they’ve cooled down. And then get on with your day, secure in the knowledge that the tirade was about them, not you. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

When was the last time you read a book that challenged your beliefs or expanded your knowledge? If it’s been since you were in school, time to hit the books! Expand your mind – learn new things, explore cultures and places, and challenge what you think you know, all from the comfort of your home. Read for ten or 15 minutes each day. Those who don’t read are no better off than those who can’t read. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

How do you react when something gives you bad vibes? Do you forge on anyway, try to rationalize why your intuition is wrong or do you pay attention to the internal nudge and move away from the situation? Bad vibes, also known as a gut reaction, is your internal wisdom trying to keep you out of danger. There's science behind it - too much to go into here, but trust me. And trust your gut reactions – when you feel one, ask yourself why your body is giving you a warning. Heed the warning instead of explaining it away or just plowing ahead. Trust the very intricate systems that work to keep you safe in the world. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Oh, the sweet savoring of revenge…not! It’s very human to think about how you can get back at someone who’s done you wrong, and it’s detrimental to your mental wellbeing when you focus on revenge. You survived, you saw a side of them that you now know exists, and you’ll move forward with more awareness of their character. Act accordingly, now that you understand them a bit better. Don’t stoop to their level and don’t let their bad behavior spoil your day, week, month or life. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Have you ever wondered about how someone can believe something, and you believe the opposite, and neither of you can sway the opinion of the other? Since everyone leads a different life with different experiences, we all have different beliefs, and each person’s brain looks for evidence to support those beliefs. Once enough evidence has piled up, beliefs become almost unshakable. So next time someone tries to convince you that what they believe is the only right way to think, smile sweetly and remember – their reality is theirs, yours is yours and maybe it’s time to change the subject. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you work with someone who infuriates you? Maybe they make the same mistake over and over again, or maybe they are a close-talker or maybe they play on their phone instead of pro-actively getting things done. No matter what it is they do, you’re the one who’s getting upset, and you’re blaming that person for making you upset. Instead of getting upset, if you maintain your composure you have the opportunity to teach them how to do better. People often shut down when faced with an angry person, and people often open up when faced with a helpful one. Instead of getting mad, get philosophical – consider that they’re doing the best they can in this moment, and what could you do to help them do better? Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

The world has been weird for a while, hasn’t it? And when uncertainty happens, people tend to get weird, too. Research at the University of California Riverside found that the stress of uncertainty is worst at the beginning of an uncertain time, eases up as time goes on, and then worsens as a conclusion nears. Are we near a conclusion? Who knows? Humans would rather have bad news than have uncertainty, and many people are feeling much more anxious than normal. When you can be the calm center in a storm of uncertainty, your family, friends and co-workers will feel calmer, too. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Every now and then, most people question whether or not they are in the right place in their lives. The right place might be a relationship, a town or a career. Think about your “right place” – does it feel right to you or do you feel like something else might suit you better? Before you make any major decisions, think about what you can and can’t control about you and your “right place.” Can you make mental tweaks in your attitude to make things feel better? If so, start there and have fun with creating a more right “right place. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Did you make a mistake today? Good. Did you feel any pain today, either physical or mental? Good. Did you work through a tough situation and bring it to a satisfying conclusion? Good. Whether you’re messing up, hurting or handling a problem, you’re human and you’re alive. And as long as you’re human and you’re alive, you have the opportunity to learn, grow and flourish. Challenges make you stronger, and are part of the human condition. Embrace the growth opportunity, knowing they come with the territory and keep life interesting. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you feel stuck right now? Maybe there’s something you want to do and you can’t see a way to do it? It’s easy to ruminate on the “how” instead of imagine the “why.” When you find yourself feeling stressed out about how you’re going to accomplish something, stop. Think about why that thing needs to be done and why you are the one who should do it. Once you’ve sorted those two avenues out, if you think it still needs to be done and you are the one to do it, then imagine how you’ll feel once it’s done. Will you be proud? Brave? Smart? Savor the feeling and go over in your mind what is changed and improved now that the thing is done. As you imagine the accomplishment, complete with the good feelings that go with it, the way to do it may pop into your mind because you’ve opened yourself to possibilities, just by doing this exercise. There – not stuck anymore! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Are there people who just suck the life out of you? They need more from you than you have to give, or they don’t value the time the constantly want from you? Time to set a boundary with those people. Because every situation is unique, every boundary is unique. Get creative on how you can only give this person the resources – and yes, your time is a resource! – that you want to give them. If they call or text you multiple times through the day, set up a quick response you can send – maybe something like “I’ll get back to you later today.” Keep it bland and impersonal and use it every time an unwanted intrusion arrives. At first you may feel guilty, and the person may very well get mad. If they do, they’re clearly showing you that your boundary is appropriate. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you know your purpose in life? We’re raised to be goal-oriented and success-oriented and driven to achieve, and yet that has nothing to do with our purpose. Our purpose is to help and to love. Our purpose is to smile at a stranger, carry grocery bags for someone on crutches, save a stray dog, listen deeply to a friend in pain. Our purpose is to love and to soothe and to lend a hand to someone who needs what we have to give in the moment. Our purpose isn’t one big accomplishment – it’s the hundreds of small accomplishments we hand out daily without even thinking about them or remembering we did them. You fulfill your purpose in life in tiny ways every day. Starting today, notice all the ways you fulfill your purpose.. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you know someone who harms themselves? Maybe a friend or co-worker has an eating disorder or cuts themselves, or cuts themselves down all the time. People who do harm to themselves are in need of professional help, and you can help them, too. When your friend or co-worker expresses their problem – the anorexic skips lunch and has black coffee when you go out to lunch, or the cutter accidently flashes their scars, or the person who’s always down on themselves starts talking about how worthless they are, one phrase can sweetly get their attention: “I wish you loved yourself as much as I love you.” If the word love feels too strong for you, substitute “cared about” instead. It won’t cure their problem – it will make them think, and maybe get help. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Have you ever suffered a big loss? Maybe it was the loss of a job, a relationship or the loss of a loved one. In the wake of major losses, we first feel unable to find happiness, and then with time, we may trip over something that makes us laugh or feel light-hearted. In that moment, guilt may crop up – a feeling that, because of the loss we’re not supposed to feel happy. Tell the guilt to take a hike – sadness isn’t meant to be our lot in life. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Are you feeling insignificant? Many people feel like what they do and who they are doesn’t matter, and that they’re not making a difference in this world. As humans, we take our strengths for granted because they come easily to us. We assume that others are at least as good, and probably better than we are at the things we do well. You are one of a kind and your talents and skills are unique and valuable. The world is a better place because you’re here, and will continue to get better because of your talents, humor and heart. Thank you! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

What you do is hard. Your patients can’t give you feedback in your language, only in theirs. Your clients may not be great observers or reporters of what’s going on. Test results may or may not give you the entire picture. You take all of the information you can gather, including observations on physical exam, and come to a conclusion, complete with treatment plan. Once you’ve done that, you have done the BEST you could do with the information you had at hand. Don’t second-guess yourself or obsess over whether you should have done something different. You did the best you could do with the information you had and that’s all anyone can do. And it’s way more than most people could do for that patient – you’re the hero of this story, not the villain or an imposter. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Your power is now. Only now. It doesn’t matter what wonderful or awful things are in your past and it doesn’t matter what fabulousness is in your future – you have no power in the past or in the future. Your only power is right now. What action will you take? What thought will you think? What decision will you make? You can’t do any of those things yesterday or tomorrow – everything is right now, and right now is where your power is. And you are so powerful! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

How do you feel when someone doesn’t like you? Do you try to help them understand who you really are? Do you do things to try to curry favor or help them see what a good person you are? Just like you weren’t put on this earth to like every other person on the planet, sometimes people just aren’t going to like you. It’s part of the human experience and it has nothing to do with you. A really powerful phrase to remember is “what other people think of me is none of my business.” Focus on those who value you, not those who can’t see who you are. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

If you’re not the owner of the hospital, perhaps you feel a bit of pressure to sell things like special shampoos, over-the-counter supplements, dog food and whatever else your hospital offers. Remember – you are NOT the salesperson. You are the doctor of veterinary medicine and as such, you understand the importance of proper nutrition, support from specific supplements and how using the right shampoo can literally change a pet’s life. Be comfortable recommending the products and services your patients need – when you see yourself as advocating for your patients, that uncomfortable sales-y feeling goes away. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Are you a confident person? Just what is confidence, anyway? Confidence is a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something, according to Merriam-Webster. Confidence tends to grow with age, because we gain more perspective about whether we can do something well and about whether it’s even ours to fix or not! When you trust your ability to learn new things, you gain confidence. When you practice something, you gain confidence. Being confident doesn’t mean walking around with your chest stuck out, feeling better than others. Being confident means you are the quiet master of your day, no matter what it throws at you. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you feel inadequate when you don’t know the answer to a question? Many people, especially people who aim to be high achievers, hold themselves to impossible standards and then beat themselves up when they fall short of those impossible standards. Did I mention that the standards are impossible? It’s not possible to know the answer to every single question – what is possible and admirable and sets a great example for everyone who sees you do it is to say something like, “I’m not sure – let’s look it up together and then we’ll both know!” Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

You’re smart. You got into vet school, got through vet school, passed your state exam and now you’re practicing medicine on your furry, feathered, finny or whatever-outer-coating patients in your hospital. The continuing education requirement is something you have to stay focused on so you don’t have to cram two years of CE requirements into a two-week period just to stay licensed. All of your schooling taught you how to learn – the most successful veterinarians continue to focus on learning all the time, not just at license renewal time. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Have you ever heard the phrase “it takes two to tango?” Well, it takes two to argue, as well. When you find yourself having to deal with an angry client, give them plenty of time to vent. Let them pour out their irritation until they have nothing else to say. When they’re quiet, maybe even take a breath before you start to reply. Then speak in a quiet, even, as-gentle-as-you-can-manage tone of voice. Even if they’re the biggest south end of a northbound mule, respond the way YOU want to behave, not the way they want or expect you to behave. It takes two people to argue – when you chose not to be one of them, then an argument can’t happen. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Losing a patient is hard, especially when it seems like the treatment plan was right, the owners were compliant and the pet died anyway. Because pet life spans are so much shorter than human life spans, veterinarians deal with patient loss a lot more often than human doctors do. Here’s the immutable fact – everything that’s alive dies. Everything. And in spite of your very best efforts, you can’t change that fact. It’s tough to lose a patient, tough to experience the client’s pain in that loss, and it’s vital that you find a way to quickly process the loss. What-if-ing yourself creates more pain inside you, not less. You did your best. You did. That’s who you are. Your clients and your patients are lucky to have you in their lives. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

What do you love to do outside of your career? Another way to ask that question – what is your hobby? Hiking with your dog? Golf? Travel? Whatever feeds your soul, do it. When looking at your weekly calendar you should see your hobby reflected there somehow. Block out time for your hobby and don’t let work or other obligations continually crowd out your hobby. Mental wellbeing is necessary in order for you to give your best to your patients, clients and co-workers and your hobby gives you a much-needed outlet for built-up stress. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

How does it make you feel when a client tells you what they read on the internet? Obviously, how you feel is at least a little bit driven by what they say – “I saw this – is it true” is very different than “here’s what the problem is – I’m not paying for tests or a physical exam, just give me the drugs they talk about in this blog post.” Know that, whether they tell you or not, your clients are probably web-surfing for information about their pet. Remember, they chose to come to you – be happy that they care enough about their pet to take the extra and very necessary step of seeing a veterinarian. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you sometimes find it hard to prioritize your non-appointment tasks? It may help to think about how those tasks impact your clients – you know, the people whose money keeps the hospital running. Tasks that inform a client about test results is probably more important than re-organizing your desktop for efficiency. Yes, that’s important, but keeping a client informed is key to keeping them satisfied and coming back. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

What is the ailment you see most commonly in your veterinary practice? No matter what it is, study it, stay up to date on the latest research about it and be a great resource for your clients and staff on that ailment. Be as good as you can possibly be when it comes to the most common problem that walks in your hospital door – the confidence that creates in your clients, your staff and yourself will set you all up for success. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Have you ever heard the phrase – or maybe read the book – Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow? You’ve wanted to be a veterinarian for most of your life. You’ve worked hard, sacrificed a lot and spent a lot to become a veterinarian. Focus on being the best veterinarian you can possibly be. Don’t stress about money. Don’t even focus on money, as tough as that piece of advice can be to follow. Focus on what you’ve wanted – practicing veterinary medicine – and the money will take care of itself. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Kent Kruse, a VetPartner colleague, suggests... My advice would be for veterinarians to ignore the recommendations of veterinary management “consultants” not to carry an Accounts Receivable. It has been well proven that a professionally managed A/R billing service (NOT a 3rd party billing service!) can significantly supplement practice revenue while creating affordability for pet owners who need time to pay for needed veterinary services. It is well past the time to remove the “Payment is Required at the Time of Service” signs and replace them with “Payment Plans Available” signs! Thanks, Kent – great food for thought! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Did you know that you’re an example to the team, and often the “attitude” leader? Whether you’re the practice-owning veterinarian, an associate vet or a relief vet, the rest of the team often looks to you as the de-facto leader. Why do you need to care? Because your attitude affects them more than you know. When you can be intentional about staying calm, centered and businesslike, the rest of the team is more likely to be that way too. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Take half a day and learn about you. Sign up for personality tests, find your core strengths, then shape your future accordingly. Thanks, Dr. Cooney – veterinarians spend so much time caring for patients, clients and staff they often forget to focus on their needs and their future! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Are you tilting at windmills, you Don Quixote you? If it’s been a while since you read that book – or at least the Cliff’s Notes – that means that you’re battling imaginary foes or wasting your time and energy on unimportant tasks. It’s easy to get side-tracked by hospital drama when your energy would be better spent on client communication, for example. Healthy teams focus on doing mission-critical tasks instead of bickering with each other or engaging in clique-ishness. Focus on the important things and leave windmill-tilting to misguided knights. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Every job has its stresses. Don’t let the hard days steal your joy. Remember your why! Why you wanted to be a veterinarian in the first place – why you worked tirelessly, studied tirelessly and maybe even celebrated tirelessly when you passed your state licensing exam. Hold onto those feelings when a hard day hits. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

What do you think about on the way home from the hospital? Are you focused on the drive or ruminating over the day’s challenges? Are you beating yourself up over a decision you made or anticipating a lovely evening? You’re in charge of where your mind goes – at the end of your workday, direct your thoughts to what you’re looking forward to instead of where you’ve already been. Even if it’s just looking forward to changing out of scrubs and into sweats, find the pleasure in that thought and think it on your way home to help you decompress. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Today’s Tiny Bite of wellbeing wisdom is from Dr. Zack Bissell, who practices in Jacksonville, FL at Coastal Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Bissell’s advice for other veterinarians is to trust your gut when working up a case and never be afraid to ask for help. On his team are veterinarians with 10 to 20 years of practicing veterinary medicine and they ask each other for advice daily. Asking for help is one of the hallmarks of emotional intelligence and wellbeing. Thanks, Dr. Bissell! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Is it more important to you that you win an argument or that you feel good? Most of life teaches us it’s important to be right, so when spats, arguments or even civilized differences of opinions crop up it’s easy to try to “win” the conversation. Most of the time, everyone loses in that scenario. It takes two people to argue – if you choose not to be one of them then an argument can’t happen. You're not giving up and you’re not giving in – you’re choosing to listen and not react, which keeps both of you happier. And that’s good for everyone’s wellbeing and success. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Today’s Tiny Bite of wellbeing wisdom is from Dr. Rebecca Kestle, owner of Cliftwood Animal Hospital in Sandy Springs, GA. You’re going to make mistakes – don’t beat yourself up about them. Learn from them, and take guidance from more experienced co-workers, regardless of their position. Find a mentor that you like and respect. Be open to input from those who care about you, your career and someone who is willing and able to help you in any way. Thank you, Dr. Kestle! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Is your life funny-crazy sometimes? Sometimes life is absurd – strange things happen that shouldn’t be able to happen, and sometimes you are present enough to see it. Enjoy the ridiculousness of life…when you’re in the moment, you’ll notice little bits of funny, crazy, ridiculous things. The smile and maybe even laugh that those things cause raises your endorphins for hours afterwards, helping you feel and work better, no matter what life is throwing at you. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Got a client coming in today that you dread seeing? Maybe they’re difficult, or maybe they’re a close-talker, or maybe they just don’t know when it’s time to leave? When you know you have to spend time with someone you don’t love spending time with, try this – make up a story about why they are the way they are. Make it a tale of woe, like something bad happened to them in childhood that caused them to be how they are. Convince yourself that the story is true, because when you do, you’ll feel love and compassion for them instead of irritation or dread. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you try to live up to other peoples’ ideas of who you should be? If there’s someone in your life who expects you to behave, believe and achieve the way they want you to that’s probably causing you a lot of stress, whether you realize it or not. So before you jump through a hoop someone else thinks you should jump through, ask yourself if YOU want to jump through that hoop. You have your own inner knowing of who you were born to be. You know what feels good to you and what doesn’t. You are you – the one and only you on the planet. You do you, and let that other person see and appreciate you for who you are. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Did someone pop your balloon today? Did your day start off well and then someone did something so bad that you just can’t find your fun self? Try this – is there anything you can do, right this minute, to make that person take back what they did? Can you fix what they did? Can you erase what they did? No to all of that? Then your power is in letting it go. When your brain starts working it like day-old chewing gum, put up that mental stop sign and think of something else. Sing a song if you have to – just stop thinking about whatever it is that you are powerless to change, fix or erase. And get set to get your good day back on track. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you worry a lot? Seriously, if you worry a lot, what you’re really doing is using your incredible imagination to create something you don’t want. And remember when I told you that your brain can’t tell the difference between reality and the thoughts inside your head? Yep – when you worry you’re creating stress hormones, muscle tightness, and contributing to long-term damage to the cells in your body. How to stop worrying? When you realize you’re doing it, focus on something good instead. Look around and see what’s good in your right now and focus on that. Take a few deep breaths, admire that thing you’re focused on and feel the tension melt. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"