Month: October 2017

Seasons Change and So Can We

It is definitely autumn now. I live in Pennsylvania and fall is definitely here. The mornings are cold, the afternoons warm, the leaves are falling and the air is fresh and light.

Chinese medicine asserts that balance of the five elements of nature-wood, fire, earth, metal and water-allows for better health. The balance of these five elements is the basis for traditional chinese medicine which includes herbal treatments and acupuncture. The elements all coincide with a season. Wood is spring, fire is summer, earth is late summer, metal is fall and water is winter.

If we apply a holistic approach to our health, which definitely includes our mental health, we can use the outline of the 5 elements for creating harmony in each season.

We are now in autumn, which in chinese medicine is represented by metal. Autumn is a time to harvest the crops and prepare for winter. It is a time to make sure everything is ready and strong for the coming winter, it is a time to clean out unwanted things.

Metal is associated with purity – think about ore being forged and refined into steel that is strong and unbreakable. Metal is associated with air as well – the changing of one thing into another, movement, adaptability, purification.

Metal is associated with the lung and large intestines, both are organs of transformation and purification. The lungs take in oxygen and expel carbon dioxide while the large intestine absorbs water, minerals and nutrients and expels the unwanted waste.

Autumn is a time of harvesting what has been sown and tendered, taking in all the necessary bounty and eliminating the unwanted, a time of change, a time of preparation.

There are traditional ways of eating in autumn based on the chinese agriculture such as more root vegetables, hearty foods, strong flavors like ginger and more water in the diet.

So today, I encourage you to immerse yourself in autumn with all of your senses. What does it feel like on your skin, what beautiful sights are there, what smells, what sounds, what foods do you appreciate in autumn?

Use this time to reflect on the harvest you have reaped this summer-what new projects were started, what family outings did you enjoy-and how can you glean strength and a deeper love for yourself and others because of what you experienced this summer.
Above all, take time to enjoy the new season and allow the ideas of harvesting the fruits of your labor create a new commitment to your health-physical, mental and spiritual.

How can Core Beliefs Shape Your World?

You have heard about core vaccines, but what about core beliefs?

AAHA has created the idea of Core Vaccines-those vaccines that are thought to be of utmost importance for the health and well being of our dogs and cats. So what if we used this idea of Core Beliefs for the health and well being of us, the veterinarian?

First off, what are Core Beliefs?

Core Beliefs are the central, innermost, or most essential beliefs you hold.

They are what is fundamental to your well being, your SELF.

What are the Core Beliefs and Perspectives that allow us to be happy and prosperous as veterinarians? What core beliefs do we need to nurture and strengthen to navigate the challenges of our career and take care of ourselves?

The #1 Core Belief is the belief that you must take care of yourSELF to be able to take care of others.

The SELF I am referring to is that divine, spiritual, connected to a higher power part of you. It is that part of you that is connected to everything else by love and compassion. It is your higher self, your inner being, your divinity. Connecting to it allows you a perspective not seen when you are only listening to your human self, your ego.

Taking care of your higher self allows for easier movement through the days maintaining your centeredness, gratefulness and love of the profession. The challenges to your groundedness are lessened. You can maintain your energy and personality and avoid compassion fatigue and burnout.

In fact, I would suggest that the more you nurture and strengthen this umbrella Core Belief-that you must take care of that part of you that is grounded in self love, over time you will encounter challenges that throw you off balance less often.

The more you strengthen yourSELF, the less often normal work scenarios will cause you to spin off into imposter syndrome, depression and compassion fatigue.

But here is the truly amazing part. You will encounter fewer irate clients, fewer drama episodes with staff, and fewer instances of feeling like an imposter. You will have more appointments that feel positive and rewarding, where you feel appreciated and respected. And, when you do find yourself in a challenging situation, you will be able to navigate it while staying centered. It truly can seem magical.

In the coming weeks we will explore other Core Beliefs that will allow you to honor and strengthen the connection to your higher wisdom. Taking care of yourSELF is truly the first belief that will set you up for a more rewarding and fulfilling career.

A Revolutionary Way of Looking at Vet Med

My decision to be a veterinarian was a calling, not a decision. I knew from a very early age that I would be a veterinarian. So now that I am, how do I navigate the stresses and struggles of the profession? Watch the video to find out what has worked for me, and how you can see our profession in a new light.