Explore your limiting beliefs.

Do you have a limiting belief about yourself or the world around you? Most of us do. Do you think you lack something or the world is working against you? We have ideas or stories that we tell ourselves about who we are and why we are not getting what we want in life. They are often subconscious, and we may be unaware of them. They may be a result of our upbringing or something someone told us as a child. 

As I work with veterinary professionals as a life coach, I learn more about the limiting beliefs that we all have.  

A limiting belief is "a thought or state of mind that you think is the absolute truth and stops you from doing certain things."

We are naturally wired to avoid pain and seek pleasure, so we are drawn into these limiting beliefs because they feel safe and secure. They keep us from pushing up against our comfort zone. Many of my coaching clients feel limited by the belief that veterinarians can't earn a lot of money or they cannot achieve work/life balance. Some think they will not be excellent clinicians because they need to be more confident in their medicine or surgical skills. The limiting belief is that they are not "ready" or "smart enough" to practice veterinary medicine with excellence. 

These stories are precisely the things that keep us from doing and becoming all that we want to be. 

What are your limiting beliefs? Do you think, "I don't have time, I don't have enough talent, I am not worthy, or I don't deserve success"?

In truth, we all have unlimited potential, and our beliefs are the things that hold us back from getting what we want. Life coaches are valuable because they help point out our limiting beliefs and teach us what we do to our lives by keeping them.

To help uncover your own limiting beliefs, ask yourself some questions. How do I feel about myself, my time, my job, my money, and my life? If any of your answers to these questions sound negative, self-destructive, or keep you from taking action, you need to work on your beliefs. 

If you think you are untalented, unworthy, or "out of your league," you probably have a fear of failure. You may be comparing yourself to others or seeing some vision of perfection in the media. To overcome this negative self-talk tendency, start by being aware of how you talk to yourself. Notice the little digs and write them down so you create awareness about how you are hurting yourself. Then practice changing those thoughts into something you might tell a loved friend or relative. Practice showering yourself with affirmations until some of them start to stick. 

If you think you don't have time to get what you want, remember that we all have the same amount of hours in the day, but we all have different priorities. Try to think about the most important things you want or need and schedule them first. Do not use the excuse that you don't have time, but make the time to start working to get them done.

If you want to gain more talent to do a great job in veterinary medicine, start thinking about working to be better each day. We all have a tendency towards impostor syndrome. I have been in this profession for over thirty years and still doubt myself. We all are a work in progress, and we become better by practicing. If you focus on the things you want to learn, open up to accepting help from your colleagues, and put in the effort, you will become everything you dream of being and more. 

Take some time to become aware of your limiting beliefs and do the work needed to begin to let them go. As you do, you will uncover your unlimited potential and begin to soar.

Dr. Julie Cappel

You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress. – Sophia Bush

Autumn Brings Change, and Change is Hard.

As I was riding my bike today in the cool (almost cold) autumn wind, I thought about how hard change is for all of us. Autumn reminds me of the changing seasons and that winter and holidays are coming up fast. So many things change this time of year; a new school year starts, football games, and everything is pumpkin spice. A few weeks ago in Michigan, it was 80 degrees as I was riding, and now it is in the high 50s. 

Change is hard.

I have several clients I am currently coaching through times of change, and they struggle with their decisions and the fear of significant life change. Fear of choosing wrong. Fear of new experiences. I am getting ready to change how I work, a significant life change for me. I feel the stress of that change, even though it is exciting and wanted. Change feels hard, but it is something that we all strive for because through change comes growth and progress. 

So why is change so difficult?  

Because we are comfortable where we are, even if you desire change, you feel the pressure of pushing against your comfort zone. We all want to stay where we are because it feels easy, and our brain likes it easy. It is easier to sit on the couch and eat chips than get outside and exercise. But, if you sit on the couch and eat chips, your life does not get easier. You get fat, lazy, and depressed, which is the opposite of easy. That is why we need to embrace change. 

When facing a decision involving change, first expect to feel some negative emotions. Sometimes, you may even feel confused. Too many choices will confuse you and cause you to sit in indecision - you will feel stuck. Getting out of that confusion will require you to narrow your choices to one or two priorities. I like to list all the things I want, then choose the top two priorities; narrowing my choices feels less overwhelming. For example, suppose you're going to get healthier. That may mean changing your diet, exercising more, increasing water consumption, decreasing sugary drinks, giving up dessert, and stopping drinking alcohol. You feel overwhelmed when you think of all these changes to your routine. If you can narrow it down to one simple yet meaningful change, you will be better able to start. Just vow to exchange one sugar drink for one water, or start walking for 10 minutes a day. Narrowing and simplifying your choices is a great way to make change more palatable. Once you have the small change down, make another.

If you face a significant life change, spend some time thinking about why you want to change. Why will this change be good for you? Write down the top three most important reasons for making a change and the top three reasons that not changing will be detrimental. Showing yourself why change is necessary is the first step in creating a significant change decision. Visualize yourself already living in your new situation. How does that person (you) feel? 

Autumn is a time of change, so take a few minutes this week to ask yourself what change you avoid because of indecision or fear. Once you answer that question, choose something to work on and embrace your change. Enjoy your autumn, and let it remind you that change is healthy and essential for personal growth. 

Enjoy a football game, crisp walk, pumpkin spice latte, or caramel apple, too.  Happy autumn to you!

Dr. Julie Cappel

Challenges make life better.

I was thinking this week about why veterinarians do what we do. 

It was a rather rough week at the veterinary hospital; an unexpected complex diagnosis for a dog in for a simple procedure, counseling the family of an elderly dog struggling with a euthanasia decision, and the unexpected death of a long-time patient made it particularly emotionally challenging for us all. Not every week is like this, but when one hits, I understand why our profession is in trouble concerning our mental health. 

When I think of these challenges, I wonder if there is a better way to see them, and if so, how can we welcome them? What things do challenges bring us that are worthwhile?

In the book 12 Rules for Life, Jordan Peterson teaches us rule number seven. “Pursue what is meaningful, not what is expedient.” 

Our tendency, based on our natural motivations, is to do what conserves energy and maintains our safety. That is the primary function of our primitive brain. However, we have all felt the deep urge to stretch ourselves to do something outside of our comfort zone to create pride, a reward. This urge goes in direct opposition to our primitive brain. Why? Challenges bring meaning, purpose, and joy to our higher brain.  

You will feel good in the moment, safe, and comfortable when you take the easy way. It is the lazy way to be. Have you ever laid on the couch all day, eating and watching movies? It feels great for the day, but if you stayed there for a week, you would certainly end up in a cloud of depression and feelings of uselessness. There is no challenge or purpose in that activity.  

A meaningful life comes from pursuing challenges that create a better living for self, family, and others. Purpose creates meaning, and the only way to make that is through some level of sacrifice. To run a marathon, you must sacrifice your time and energy by running many miles and training daily. Laying on the couch will not get you there.

Veterinary medicine requires sacrificing your time and emotion to help people and animals in their time of need. We create value with difficulty, not with ease. Just like working your muscles to become stronger, we practice veterinary medicine to improve. We stretch, learn, fail, grow, and feel more fulfilled for the struggle. The joy in completing a difficult day is in the feeling of accomplishment if we choose to see it that way.  

Choosing the responsibility and embracing the difficulty of treating patients is what purpose in life is all about. If you feel discouraged in veterinary medicine, try to focus on the rewards of the job. You build mental muscle and value in everything you do for your patients, clients, and, most importantly yourself. Choose challenge to make your life better.

Dr. Julie Cappel

“The more difficult the journey, the sweeter the reward.” - Erin Andrews