Tiny Bites of Wagaliciousness

What have you done for yourself today? Do you have something you do for yourself every morning, like maybe meditate for 15 minutes or read something inspirational or journal for a few minutes? You are worth making an effort for, don’t you think? And PS – the only correct answer to that question is “yes!” When you take care of yourself everything else feels easier. If you don’t already do it, starting tomorrow morning, do something for yourself that will set you up to have a great day. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you “what if” yourself? The weird thing about “what if” is that it doesn’t do anything except make you confused, regretful and if you skipped lunch and are regretting it now, maybe a little bit hungry. When you “what if” over something you’ve already decided and acted upon, you’re re-living the past inside your head. You have no power in the past – there’s nothing you can do now that will change the outcome of what’s already happened. Instead of asking yourself “what if” try asking yourself “what now?” Start where you are to move forward and trust that you made the best decision you could make with the information you had. That’s living your life in the now, where all your power is. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

How do you feel when you get up in the morning? Some people are rarin’ to go – some as slow as a slug until the coffee kicks in. Full disclosure - I'm that second one! If you’re that way too, guess what? You get to choose which way your day will go. As you’re waiting for the coffee to get ready, spend a few minutes in meditation or journaling or both – you’ll set yourself up for success before the first cup of coffee! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Have you ever heard of box breathing? It’s a controlled way of breathing with specific patterns, and there are a bunch of different patterns. A study published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology suggests that two minutes of 5-2-7 breathing a day will help you make better decisions. Breathe in for a count of 5, hold for a count of 2, exhale for a count of 7. Two minutes of that a day will calm you down in that moment and help you make better decisions for the rest of the day. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you sometimes say something you wish you hadn’t said? Words are like arrows – once they’re out, they’re gone and you can’t take them back. Whether you do it as soon as the words are out or do it later when you’re calmer, it’ll make you feel better if you apologize for saying words that might have hurt someone’s feelings. If other people heard what you said, try to apologize when those other people are there, too. Sincere apologies make you look strong, not weak, to those who hear them, and they make you feel a lot better too. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you sometimes feel like, no matter what you do, that you’re not making a very big difference in the world? Trust me, you’re wrong about that – here’s what’s really going on. Our strengths and talents feel very natural and organic to us, so we take them for granted. It’s easy for me to distill brain research into concepts most people can easily grasp, and it’s easy for you to visit with a patient and feel the things that could be wrong with them even though they can’t speak words to you. You make a difference for your patients, for their owners, for your team, for your family and friends and everyone you touch in life. You matter, because no one else can do what you do with the heart and soul you pour into doing it. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you wish you had more courage? The more days you live, the more different experiences you have, the more courage you’ll develop. Part of courage is the willingness to try again, the willingness to learn and the willingness to say you’re sorry if your actions hurt someone else. It takes a lot of courage to be authentic, open and caring – and since you are the definition of a caring person, you’re already more courageous than a lot of people. When you have courage in the small things you’ll trust that you also have courage in the big, sudden scary things too. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

How do you feel when something goes wrong? When you make a mistake do you kick yourself for failing or give yourself the grace of knowing that you did the best you could do with the information you had, and now you have more information? I know sometimes lives are at stake when something goes wrong in your hospital and that adds extra pressure. When you remember that you did the best you could with the information you had, it’s easier to allow yourself the space to learn and grow. And that’s what humans are here to do! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you eat enough food each day? My dogs are sure there's no such thing as “enough food!” Your brain needs over 300 calories a day just to run your body – more if you want it to do things like make decisions, sing and dance or spay that cat that was dropped off this morning. If you skip breakfast and skimp on lunch, you’re asking your brain to do the impossible – sustain your body while making complex executive decisions and accessing your memory and motor skills all day. Eat. Eat enough. Eat good, nutritious food, just like you tell your clients to feed your patients the right way. Take care of yourself like you want your patients taken care of – eat enough food. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Are you having one of those days where it feels like an avalanche of badness is falling on you? Maybe your day has included stubbing your toe, dripping toothpaste on your last clean scrub top, being late for your first appointment and having your groomer and receptionist arguing and expecting you to referee. It’s easy to let all those things combine into one big stress ball – stop! Let go of the things that happened that you can’t change, fix the things you can, and think about the next thing on your plate. Prepare to tackle what’s next and let history rest in peace. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Are you surrounded by strong people or weak ones? A great way to discover the answer is to hear how they talk to others. Strong people offer uplifting comments, offer help in a non-condescending way and talk well about their colleagues even when they’re not around. Weak people gossip, tattle-tale and belittle their co-workers. If you’re the leader, it’s up to you to help the weak people grow stronger. Everyone can grow and change, and if you’re working with people willing to grow, then helping them grow stronger helps strengthen your team too. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

News flash – you’re not perfect. I know you want to be and try to be but you’re not. No one is perfect. When you make a mistake, instead of beating yourself up about it, try this – look at your hands and say to yourself – “oh, look…I’m human!!” Part of being human is to learn and grow, and the only way to learn and grow is to make mistakes. So when you make a mistake, make light of it and move on, secure in the knowledge that you’re just doing what you’re supposed to do.  

Are you constantly telling yourself you can’t do something or you’re not something you think you need to be, like smarter or sweeter or something-er? Add one word - yet. Adding that one word can remind you that we’re all a work in progress and we have the time and talent to become whatever we want to be. Yet – three little letters that make a powerful difference in how you view yourself. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Is there someone on your team you wish was different?  Think about how tough it is to make changes to yourself – how are this year’s New Year’s resolutions doing? If you can’t make yourself behave differently, imagine how tough it’ll be to make someone else change? If you’re their leader you can help them grow and maybe you can inspire change in them. That only happens if they want to make the change you want them to make, and it takes a lot of diplomacy and tact to get the words just right. Change how you think about their unwanted behavior – you have total control over that! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

How do you respond when someone criticizes you or wants to argue? It’s really easy to get defensive or to argue – instead, memorize these words and use them as needed – “thank you for your input – I’ll consider it.” You have acknowledged that you heard them and have NOT agreed to what they’re saying, just that you’ll consider it. You might consider it garbage, but hey, you still considered it! Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

You're the first to know, and the first to benefit, if you choose to subscribe! The Mind, Body, Soul Sessions podcast is live - a brand new way to create wellbeing and success with a comfy chair, an ear or two and 15 minutes to participate. Here's what you can expect in the weekly episodes: Mind - a relaxing time to just focus on you as you're lead through a problem/solution for issues you may face daily. Body - a gentle, intentional, meditative activation of the body's muscles, from the comfort of your chair. Done daily, this activation works to tone and strengthen muscles. Soul - a meditative time, just for you, each day. Here's a short sample of the Mind, Body, Soul Sessions - enjoy! If you want to know more, visit https://www.centerforworkplacehappiness.com/mind-body-soul-sessions  Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Do you value groupthink on your hospital team or are you open to dissenters? While it’s tempting to wish for a team that’s always on the same page, people don’t do their best work that way. First, you know how tough it is to get two people to agree on everything – how can you expect your entire team to agree all the time? Instead, be open to differing ideas and points of view. When your team trusts you enough to disagree with you right to your face, that’s when you know you’ve developed a strong team. Celebrate differences of opinion – that’s where growth opportunities for everyone come from. Want more? Click here for a free audio course, "Happiness is an Inside Job"

Are you running on empty? Not enough sleep, that is. Decades of research can’t be wrong – people who are sleep deprived make poor decisions, and you don’t want to do that, right? Create a going-to-bed ritual. I stop touching my phone an hour before bedtime, use a white noise machine while I sleep and play 30 minutes of meditative music at a low volume as I fall asleep. Steal my ritual or create one that works for you – when you do, get set to sleep longer and sounder. Want More? Click here for access to the Happiness is an Inside Job free audio course!

Did you know that a goal is just an excuse to grow and learn?  What’s really happening when you’re reaching for a goal is that you’re stretching your knowledge and creativity and belief in yourself, and that’s all good! So go ahead – set a goal. Just remember it’s the journey to the goal that really lights your fire, so enjoy every step along the way. Want More? Click here for access to the Happiness is an Inside Job free audio course!

Do you have a game on your phone that you like to play? There’s a connection to playing games where you have to move your finger and make quick decisions as you play and making better decisions in real life. Give yourself permission to play now and then – actually, give yourself permission to play a game on your phone for about 10 minutes a day. Sharpen those decision-making skills while you have fun! Want More? Click here for access to the Happiness is an Inside Job free audio course!

Have you ever heard that saying, “go big or go home?” We say it about sporting events a lot, and it’s good advice in your life, too. Many girl humans are raised to be delicate and feminine and ladylike – bah! Be those when and if you want to be, and be other things too. Have a big, audacious goal and go for it. Have big, loud fun and invite everyone around you to be part of it. Give yourself permission to do that crazy thing you’ve always wanted to do. When you go big in your imagination and in real life, you live the life you’re designed for. Go big before you’re called home. Want More? Click here for access to the Happiness is an Inside Job free audio course!

When something is hard, do you give up or do you let go? Those may sound like the same things but there’s a vast difference. When you give up you usually feel defeated and deflated – you’ve given it your best and you’ve been bested. That’s not a powerful or successful way to feel. Instead, try letting go – say things to yourself like “things have worked out before and this probably will, too” and let it go. Give it to your deity of choice to take care of and focus your energy on other things. This allows you to leave space for a solution to come to you, and frees your talents up to be used elsewhere. Want More? Click here for access to the Happiness is an Inside Job free audio course!  

Do you ever feel like a situation is hopeless? That’s a bad way to feel, isn’t it? If you’re feeling stuck in a hopeless situation, it helps to remember that you’re not the only one expected to make it all better. You’re surrounded by people who can and will pitch in, and like magic, the hopeless situation can morph into a success, a better outcome or just a valuable learning opportunity. Things always work out, even when it feels hopeless to you. And it’s not magic – it’s allowing others to be part of the solution. Want More? Click here for access to the Happiness is an Inside Job free audio course!

Is there a song with lyrics that inspire you? I love "Follow Your Arrow" by Kacey Musgraves so much I even named a dog after her! Was there ever a time in your life where you realized that you couldn’t possibly be what everyone wanted you to be? This person wanted you to be one way, another person wanted you to be another way, and so on? Because you’re a caring person it’s easy to try to be what other people want you to be – just don’t give up who you are at your core, no matter what. Follow your arrow because that’s the only way to live the life you were born to live. Want More? Click here for access to the Happiness is an Inside Job free audio course!

Are you feeling frumpy today? Maybe you’re having a bad hair day? Or maybe you feel like you’ve added a few pounds or like the scrub color you’re wearing washes you out. Here’s something to try – give yourself a compliment. Make it something you can believe, something you know is true about you – got it? Good – now go find a mirror and look yourself in the eyes as you give yourself that compliment a few times in a row. Reminding yourself of your strengths can banish that frumpy feeling fast! Want More? Click here for access to the Happiness is an Inside Job free audio course!

Are you looking to others for validation, love and respect? When you get it, it feels great, doesn’t it? How about when you say something and expect a positive response, but are met with a flat or negative reply? Not so good, right? And then how do you feel? Less than? Hurt? Angry? Defensive? Maybe a little bit of all of that? Do you know why you feel that way? Because you gave your power away. It’s not anything the other person did, and believe it or not, their reply probably had more to do with the kind of day they were having, not about you at all! When you feed yourself – when you give yourself positive messages, validation, love and respect – you hold on to your power, and feel great a lot more often! Want More? Click here for access to the Happiness is an Inside Job free audio course!

What do you deserve? Really think about the things you want in life and then ask yourself, “do I deserve this?” You might feel like you don’t deserve to reach your dreams – have the house you want, or the partner you want or the children you want – and you would be wrong. You deserve everything your heart can find to want, and more. You are probably the main person standing in your way to feeling deserving. When you think about what you want and ask “do I deserve this” answer out loud – "Heck Yeah, I do!!! Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course!

Do you have to deal with someone who’s difficult? Maybe angry, defensive, egotistical, greedy – whatever they are, they just suck the life out of you? Instead of dreading your interactions with them, try this – feel compassion for them. Can you imagine going through life knowing that people don’t like you very much? And believe me, they know! Think of them as kind of broken, because in a way they are. When you can feel for them instead of against them it helps you feel better. And maybe the interactions with them will go better, too! Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course!

Choices, choices, choices – do you have a tough time making choices?  Do you put off making a choice hoping the “right” choice becomes obvious? Not making a choice is actually a choice – you’re choosing to let the universe or higher power or whoever you’ve given the power to take care of it. When you make a choice, it’s just a choice for now. You can always make another choice later. Take the pressure off of making choices – it’s all good! Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course!

Do you think you can or worry that you can’t? When you worry about whether you can do something, it slows you down. Instead of using energy on worry, use it to look up what you need to know to feel more confident. Then you’ll learn, grow and achieve instead of worry. And that sounds a lot more fun, right?  Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course!

Do you ever feel like a chameleon – you know, like you have to change yourself to fit in with those around you?  If you’re working with or living with people you believe you have to hide your true self from, that has to feel really bad, and maybe even scary sometimes. It might feel hard, but you have to be true to you – don’t trade away your authenticity for the approval of others. Be you – you might be pleasantly surprised by the love and support you’ll find. Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course!    

Self-confidence is something a lot of people struggle with – you, too, sometimes? We are usually much harder on ourselves than on the people in our lives. That’s a habit developed in childhood and it doesn’t serve us well at all – listening to all that negative self-talk in your head guts your self-confidence. Try this to build yourself back up – once a day, focus on something that you did really well that day or the day before and feel the pride of a task well-done. If you journal, make this part of your journaling routine. If you practice regular affirmations or meditation, make it part of that time. Focus on success and feel your self-confidence soar.  Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course!

Do you ever look at other veterinarians and think they’re so much more together than you are? You never know what’s going on inside another person’s head, heart and life, though as humans, we like to think we know. We don’t. What looks calm, cool and collected on the outside could be full of conflict and consternation on the inside. You can admire someone and want to be like them – just beware of comparing yourself to them, because you’re not walking in their Crocs. Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course!

It can be very difficult to create a new habit, no matter how much you want to do it. Check out this idea that could help. Are you trying to develop a new habit and it’s not happening?  If creating a new habit in your life is hard, make it easier to do by being consistent. If it’ll be a daily habit, do it every day. Weekly habit? Set a reminder on your smart speaker and let her boss you around. Taking the path of least resistance – you know, making excuses and not doing new thing – is taking the path of no change, no growth and no new habit.  Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course!

Drivers can be SO annoying...here's how to not let them get to you. Do you get irritated at other drivers when you’re driving? I look out the window and sometimes see the driver in the car beside us yelling and pounding on his steering wheel. Scary!! Humans take things so personally sometimes – if you get mad at other drivers, you might be thinking things like, “he just cut me off!!” or “they’re so slow that I could walk faster!!” Usually, what you’re doing is taking the other driver’s actions personally, like they’re out to get you. They’re not – they’re just driving. You’re the one making up a story inside your head that’s making you angry and hurting your attitude and your body. Look around and find something to appreciate or admire and let yourself off the hook. You’ll arrive in a much better mood, I promise. Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course!

The original. The one and only. The irreplacable. Yep - it's all the same person. Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course!  

Chances are you're learning something - but does it feed your soul? Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

Feeling cranky, headachey and otherwise just not great? Could be just a tiny tweak to your day to change all of that. Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

What are you expecting? There's power in it. Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

There's a special breed of human that often lands in veterinary hospital teams. And they're a problem. Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

Most people hate change. And if nothing changed, most people would hate that more. Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

Yeah, that voice. Is it serving you? If you're like most people, the answer is a resounding "no." Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

Does it feel like the whole staff is about to snap? Take 5! Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

Sometimes it can be tough to figure out just what to be grateful for! Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

Smiles trigger endorphins in the smiler and the smilee(s). [is that really a word?...it is now!] Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

Can you do it all? Probably, because you rock like that. Should you, though? Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

Sometimes self-care feels self-indulgent. And you're worth it! Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

Having ideas is great - setting intentions takes those ideas to a whole new level. Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

What do you and Pavlov's dog have in common? Hint - virtual reality has something to do with it. Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion

No, not shedding, drooling and slashing claws - they do plenty of things right and you can, too. Want More? Click here for free access to the Happiness is an Inside Job audio course! #braingamesforthewin #veterinarymedicine #veterinarian #vetlife #evidencebased #vettechs #wellbeing #notonemorevet #theveterinarianschampion