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We hear a lot about the importance of not judging, whether that’s not judging ourselves or not judging others. Most of us probably try to live by that advice, but it’s often harder than it sounds. So often we fall into attitudes of judgment without even meaning to, especially when it comes to ourselves, where our judgments are often the harshest of all. That attitude of judgment can cloud our perspective on things, making it hard for us to see the actual truth of the matter. Learning to recognize those moments of judgment and peel them away to see the truth underneath can lead to important insights about ourselves and give us clarity about our lives. Psychologist and dog trainer Amy Binder joined me today to talk about how her work with at-risk kids and at-risk dogs taught the importance of letting go of judgment to look at things honestly. 

We’re used to the idea of work and play being not just separate things, but often polar opposites. Work is serious, play is frivolous. Work is necessary, play is more optional. Work is useful and productive, play is our less useful reward for putting in all that productive work. But while this is definitely the case sometimes, does it really have to be the case all the time? Professional pet sitter Collin Funkhouser came on the show to discuss this very thing. Join us as we discuss what the ideal form of work looks like, and finding joy and value in your job- even if it’s one that people don’t take seriously.

“I should do this, I should do that…” Our lives are full of “shoulds,” of tasks and errands that we feel obligated to do, and that gnaw away at us when we don’t. Many of us go through our days carrying the guilt and anxiety that results from not having done or accomplished everything we “should.” Needless to say, this is hardly a recipe for a healthy or flourishing emotional life. What if it didn’t have to be this way, though? What if we could free ourselves from the guilt of “should” and instead embrace a mentality where even necessary tasks become a conscious choice we make, instead of an obligation? Cat behavior consultant Misty Hampton joined me today to talk about the freeing power of getting rid of the “should”s in her life.

Communication is at the heart of any relationship. So much of a healthy relationship depends on being able to communicate our thoughts, feelings, needs, and desires to the people we love. This isn’t always easy, of course- wires get crossed, words get misunderstood. And all of this gets even harder when one of us isn’t human. We love our pets and we think (or at least hope) that they love us as well. But how can we be sure when we can’t speak the same language? Is it even possible for us to have authentic communication with our animal friends? Pat Blocker joined me today to talk about this very issue. A lifelong animal lover, Pat has always had a desire to communicate with pets. Now, in her capacities as both a dog trainer and a certified animal communicator, she does just that. Join us as we discuss how we can communicate better with animals, and what we can learn simply by paying attention.

Each of us has visions of what we want in life- things we hope to do, achieve, and experience. Envisioning, planning, and daydreaming about these things can be useful and is certainly enjoyable, but when it comes time to take action to try and make them a reality…well, that can be intimidating, even frightening. It’s often tempting--and always easier--to simply enjoy the daydream. So how do we inspire ourselves to act? To take that first step towards making our dreams a reality? For Laura Perkins, it means remembering the “beauty, magic, and power” of boldness, even in the seemingly small actions of sending that email or making that phone call. She joined me today to talk about her career, building a community, and being willing to be bold.

It makes sense to say that we can’t do it all. After all, we’re each just one person, and no one person can do everything, right? But then you meet someone like Dr. Meghan Herron who seems like she really has done it all- gone to veterinary school, raised two kids, and single-handedly started an entirely new program of study at OSU- and you can’t help but wonder if maybe there is some way to do it all. But how? What’s the secret? How can you possibly do everything you both need and want to without going stark raving mad? Dr. Herron joined me today to talk about her work as a behavioral vet and her philosophy to “doing it all” while protecting your own mental health and avoiding burnout.

Our lives very rarely take the paths we think they will. Even if we end up where we planned, we seldom take the route we thought we would. Looking back, it’s sometimes easy to see how a combination of seemingly unconnected chances, events, and decisions led us to where we are (for good or ill), but in the moment we often feel as though we’re flying blind. And then there are the times we’re sure we’ve made the right decision only to look back later and see how wrong or misinformed we were, despite our best efforts. Professional pet sitter Maria Giaccio always thought she’d work with animals, but didn’t get there the way she thought she would. Join us as we discuss her roundabout route to owning a doggy daycare, reflect on Maya Angelou’s words about knowing and doing better, and remember the importance of having compassion for our past selves.

Whether it’s relationships, jobs, finances, health, or a dozen other areas, everybody wants to feel as though they have control over their life. We crave the security that comes from knowing–or at least feeling like we know–where we’re headed, and that things are going according to plan. But the truth is that we actually have control over far fewer things than we might like.  While facing the limits of our control can be frightening, it can also be liberating and allow us to achieve a certain amount of calm, even in the face of uncertainty. Today, dog trainer and vet tech Stephanie Kern joined me to talk about her experiences working with dogs and how she’s learned to embrace the fact most things are outside of her control.   https://colleenpelar.com/103

Time, whether we like it or not, marches on. All our experiences, both good and bad, are only temporary. Reminding ourselves of this can be a double-edged sword. While it may make it easier for us to soldier on through the hard times, remembering that they won’t last forever, it can also be disheartening to remember that all the good times will pass away as well. But maybe the well-known saying that “this too shall pass” doesn’t have to be a source of sadness when we apply it to the things we love. Maybe instead, it can be an inspiration to dive headlong into whatever comes our way, making the most of it while it lasts. Dog trainer and anthrozoologist Marika Bell came on the show to discuss this with me, as well as share stories of her many and varied experiences with animals ranging from bears to dogs to deadly snakes. https://colleenpelar.com/102

We all know the old adage “practice makes perfect.” At first glance, it seems like good advice. Isn’t perfection the goal, the thing we should all strive for? After all, if something is perfect it is, by definition, the best it can possibly be. Nothing can be better than that–or can it? Is there something out there that could be better than the ever-elusive “perfect?” Turns out there just might be! Join dog trainer Rebecca Johnson and me as we discuss the limits of perfectionism, as well as gardening, lemurs, and whether there is such a thing as better than perfect. https://colleenpelar.com/101

Stress. Burnout. Compassion fatigue. These are issues everybody faces, but are especially common among pet professionals. Awareness around these issues is growing, but it can still be hard to know what to do when we find ourselves in those tough times. As a dog trainer and a licensed clinical social worker, Sarah Pellizzari is an expert at taking care of both animals and people. The owner of Southern Colorado Animal Assisted Therapy and Training, Sarah taps the human-animal bond to help both dogs and people overcome trauma to lead healthy, flourishing lives. Join us as we discuss self-compassion, mental health awareness, creating a supportive community, and the power of hope to see us through difficult times and create a better tomorrow.   https://colleenpelar.com/100

Time. It’s quite possibly our most precious resource, and one that many of us feel we never have enough of. With what can seem like a million things all clamoring for our attention at once, trying to figure out how to prioritize our time and use it wisely can feel overwhelming and well-nigh impossible. Perhaps the solution lies in changing how we look at time in the first place. Kathrine Christ, MIA, CTC, CDBC, the executive director of the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC), joined me to talk about how the words of a literal wizard help her use her time with greater deliberation and intentionality.

Support is essential to all of our endeavors. If we lack the support and encouragement of those around us, especially our nearest and dearest, our mental and emotional well-being suffers and success becomes harder to achieve. But what exactly does support look like? Where does it come from and how do we find it? What does it mean not just to receive support, but to give it as well? Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB, joined me to talk about what support has meant to her over the course of her decades-long career, as well as how she tries to give back by supporting the veterinary behaviorists of tomorrow.   https://colleenpelar.com/98

What you think about you matters most. External validation means you are measuring your self-worth based on what other people think of your behavior. Internal validation means you are clear about who you are and what you value, so you always have an easy way to measure your success. Listen in on this great conversation with Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB. She  shared her thoughts about the power of internal validation as well as her own simple metric for evaluating each day. Give it a try and let me know what you think! 

Imposter syndrome is extraordinarily common and incredibly debilitating. All around, you see capable, competent pet pros who are doing a terrific job. And I'm here to tell you that most of them can't see how amazing they are. Can you? Do you know how amazing you are?  If you struggle with imposter feelings, it's likely that at least one of the seven reasons in this episode has gotten in your way. 

A limiting belief is something you believe to be true that constrains your choices in some way. It's a belief that "that's just the way things are, and there's nothing I can do about it." Often you won't even recognize your limiting beliefs and so you'll never test them to see if they help or hinder you. Learning to recognize your limiting beliefs and make more active choices allows you to show up in support of yourself in more empowering ways. https://colleenpelar.com/95  

How much is "enough" and how much is an "abundance?" This varies by category and circumstance. We often think of money when we talk about abundance. How much money would you need to have to feel abundant? What about other categories? How many supportive relationships would feel like an abundance? How much time to dedicate to your own interests and needs? What amount of sleep would be abundant for you? Meredith Jones, DVM, joined me to talk about abundance in its many forms. Tell me, what's something that is either free or very inexpensive that makes you feel abundant?

There's magic in diving deep into a subject and learning as much as you possibly can about it. There's something so exciting and energizing about it. Hannah Branigan, CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, is a self-described nerd. Her passion subjects include dog training, Applied Behavior Analysis, and neuroscience. That's quite a mix! She joined me for a fun conversation about the power of owning your interests and pursuing them with passion. https://colleenpelar.com/93

FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST Far too often, your attention is focused more on other people's priorities than your own. Focus gives you purpose to pursue work that's meaningful to you *and* the freedom to do what you choose, feeling present, calm, and content. Pet professionals often find their work isolating and draining. Maintaining a focus on what matters most to you re-energizes you and helps you build the habits, practices, and connections that fuel you. You deserve to enjoy your day-to-day life. There's no one better than Dog*Biz's president, Veronica Boutelle, to talk about focus with. For nearly two decades, Dog*Biz has been helping dog pros build their businesses with careful deliberation so they can do good work and also earn a good living. https://colleenpelar.com/92

Judgment requires comparison, but comparison does not require judgment. Learn to harness your brain's natural gift of comparison without letting it harm your self-image, productivity, or motivation. https://colleenpelar.com/91