Rekindling: Compassion Fatigue Solutions For Animal Workers

Life can get crazy busy and the things that matter the most can inadvertently get lost. This week I want to share with you an exercise that can help you reassess, redecide and recommit to what matters most and also what matters least (as well as all the stuff in between!). 

As a New Yorker, we're not known for our patience and I'm not exception. I work hard on this and had an experience recently that allowed me to see how far I've come. I think patience can best be described by this quote, "Patience is the calm acceptance that things can happen in a different order than the one you have in your mind."

We all have tons of thoughts and beliefs that we just take as true, never stopping to question any of them. And these same thoughts and beliefs are the cause of a tremendous amount of suffering. Most include the word "should". They should, we should, I should and you should. Rarely does "shoulding" feel good or lead to connection.  Inquiry is a practice of self-realization whereby we explore what is at the root of our suffering, our mind. When we are willing to look at, question and see the results of our thinking, we can find an end to our suffering. This is freedom.  You can find out more about Dr. Step Skupin at her website https://theleaderswork.com/. 

We've likely all felt entitled from time to time. Entitlement is when we feel like we inherently deserve something, special privileges or have the right to having something. The promotion, respect from others and lighting speed wifi to name a few. So here's what to do about it in ourselves and in our workplaces if it's rearing it's ugly head at work. 

We've all had those moments where it feels like the walls are caving in on us and we can't muster an optimistic attitude. Pessimism consists of 3 distinct attributes (the 3 P's) that once you are aware of, you can use to unwind yourself from it's negative grip. 

We're drawn to working with animals for many altruistic reasons. Then why can we be so cruel to our fellow humans sometimes? In this episode I'm talking about making generous assumptions about our fellow humans and using the Socratic method of questioning when we do want to speak out. 

In today's episode I'm speaking to therapist Allison Johanson about the nervous system. Understanding the nervous system has been a really important part of my personal development and the work I'm doing with my private clients. Today we are talking about Polyvagal Theory!  You can find out more about Allison at her website: https://www.supportedchange.com/ Allison's resource, Connecting Deep: A Guide to Building Resilience Through Reflection https://subscribepage.io/FOdjy3

Curiosity and criticism are two opposing forces. One leads to self-discovery, the other to self-judgment, condemnation and staying small in your life. This episode will teach you all the reasons and benefits of choosing curiosity over criticism. 

After last week's episode you've likely been itching to start looking ahead and thinking about the kind of year you want 2024 to be. As with last week's episode, Year Review, this episode is complete with 10 questions to ask yourself and my answers to those same questions.  You can get those questions right here. 

At the end of the year It's customary to reflect on the previous year. Look at your wins, your losses, your challenges and your achievements as a way to create closure for all that 2023 was. In Rekindling fashion I've created 10 questions for you to ask yourself. In this episode I walk you through my answers.  You can find the 10 questions for your Year Review right here. 

In working with animals you understand the power of the nervous system. When an animal is anxious, you intuitively know how to calm them using your own balanced energy. In essence, this is co-regulation and you have the ability to do this not only with animals, but with people too. 

The holiday season often conjures images of joy, togetherness, and celebration. However, for many, this time can also serve as a brutal reminder of loss and the ache of grief. Whether it's the absence of a loved one, the strain of fractured relationships, or the weight of unmet expectations, the holidays can magnify the complexities of grief. Please join me on Tuesday, December 19, 2023 @ 7 pm EST for a webinar I'm calling "Grieving Together: Support During The Holidays" Registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CcLqMz3CRsCR9631MqxvKQ#/registration

Today I'm speaking with Veterinary Social Worker and therapist Emily Carveth about all things vet med and other challenges in animal organizations. You'll want to hear this convo!    Emily's VSW website, BOOP Veterinary Social Work Consulting: https://boopveterinaryconsulting.com/ Emily's therapy website (practice is called Spoken Balance): https://www.spokenbalance.com/emily Instagram: @boopveterinaryconsulting Emily's mentor, Tawanna Woolfolk of Sacred Ground Institute: https://www.sacredgroundinstitute.com/ Emily's Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, Sandrine Harris of Emergent Nature: https://www.sandrineharris.com/

We're now officially in the holiday season! You get to decide what kind of holiday season to have. If you approach it with dread, it's not going to be enjoyable. But with intention you can decide what you want you might want to let go of that isn't bringing you joy during the holiday season or what you might want to start doing that does bring you joy.  Here are the 10 questions I created to help you create the holiday season you crave.  1.What holiday traditions bring me the most joy, and how can I prioritize and incorporate them into this year's celebrations? 2.How can I balance my commitments and prioritize self-care during this busy season? 3.What new activities or experiences can I explore during the holidays to bring novelty and excitement to the season? 4.Who are the people I cherish spending time with the most during the holidays, and how can I create meaningful connections with them? 5.In what ways can I practice gratitude and mindfulness to appreciate the beauty and essence of the holiday season? 6.

Realizing what's good in our life doesn't actually come naturally. Seeing what's wrong does. You can thank your brain for that! It's just our negativity bias getting in the way of us experiencing more joy. The great news is that you can (and must) override your negativity bias by intentionally looking for, recognizing and dwelling in what's good in your life.  Here's where you can get the 30 prompts to help you focus on what's good.  https://bit.ly/fowg

The simple act of putting pen to paper has enormous benefits to one's mental and emotional health. So why do we all fight it so much? In this episode I'll discuss: -proven benefits to journaling -different ways to journal -obstacles to journaling -ways to overcome those obstacles By the end of this episode, you'll be running to get your journal....and starting to reap all the benefits that come with this simple, accessible and affordable practice of self-care. 

Many animal workers are conflict avoidant. We have deep-seated fears about conflict and therefore avoid it at all costs. What ensues is triangular conversations (she said/he said) that keep our relationships and our personal growth stuck. Today I interview Angie Childers, Life Coach specializing in Leadership, Team Building and Communication. You don't want to miss this one!!! Find out more about Angie at her website https://www.enlighteneddetour.com/ Her podcast, Detour Insights can be found on her website and Spotify.

We all want to be liked but few of us really understand what we stand to lose when we prioritize wanting to be liked over being who we are. The truth is that when you are authentic and are living in integrity, some people won't like you. Decide whose opinion really does matter in your life and whose isn't really that important anyway. This episode will teach you so much about finding the courage to be disliked. 

There's a name for grief we don't feel like we're allowed to have or that is not acknowledged by society, it's called disenfranchised grief. It's what I've felt this week in the wake of the loss of Esther The Wonder Pig. I never "met" Esther and yet feel the deep sorrow as the result of her passing. I'm sure many of her 1.5 million followers do too. Disenfranchised grief is what you may feel for a patient of yours that dies, an animal that gets adopted from your shelter or a research animal you've had to euthanize. It's legitimate grief  and this episode will help you understand it and yourself more. 

I believe social media should come with a warning similar to what alcohol and cigarettes do. CAUTION: Engaging with this could be harmful to your mental health. Especially when we are already feeling vulnerable due to burnout and compassion fatigue that comes with your work of helping animals. Awareness is imperative. Know yourself and when it's not a good idea to engage and curate your feed so that it's content, people and groups that lift you up.