Breaking Free from Mental Baggage: A Path to Conscious Leadership in Veterinary Care

In the hustle and bustle of veterinary practice, from treating patients to managing a team, it's easy to operate on autopilot. Yet, have you ever stopped to consider how much of your daily life is driven by unconscious beliefs and values? This isn't just about your clinical knowledge or skills, but rather the underlying assumptions that shape how you see the world, interact with others, and even understand yourself.

Living Unconsciously: The Lenses We Wear

Imagine for a moment that from a young age, you've been wearing a pair of glasses with coloured lenses. These lenses, representing the beliefs and values instilled in us by parents, teachers, peers, and our environment, colour every experience, influencing our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours in ways we often don't realise. This is living unconsciously – believing "this is just how I am," without questioning the foundations of those beliefs.

Real Transformations

• Emily's Story: Emily ran her own vet practice with big dreams but hit a snag because of an old belief: "you can't take money with you." This saying, picked up from her grandparents, meant she was quick to spend or invest without thinking it all the way through. It helped her sometimes but also meant she lost as much as she gained, stopping her practice from becoming the top-notch place she imagined. After a year of coaching and getting some savvy expert money advice, Emily started to see things differently. She shook off the old money mindset and began making smarter choices.
• Sarah's Turnaround: Sarah was all about doing everything herself. She thought it was the only way to make sure everything was done right, from the tiny details of bringing new staff on board to the big stuff. But this meant she was always swamped, and her team felt like they were being watched all the time. With some coaching, Sarah realised this habit was holding her practice back. She started to let go, trusting her team more and giving them space to take charge of things.

The Impact of Our Beliefs and Values

Our beliefs and values profoundly impact our daily experiences. They filter how we perceive the world and interact within it. When we start to examine and, if necessary, change these lenses, the transformation begins. Situations that once caused distress no longer affect us in the same way, and our professional and personal interactions evolve. Reflecting on Emily's and Sarah's stories, we see how their initial beliefs clouded their decision-making and leadership styles, and how confronting these beliefs led to transformative growth in their practices.

The Cost of Holding onto Outdated Beliefs

For veterinary professionals, the beliefs you hold shape your reality at work. They influence interactions with clients, collaborations with colleagues, and leadership approaches. Clinging to beliefs that no longer serve you can lead to repeated challenges and a sense of inadequacy. Emily's financial struggles and Sarah's micromanagement issues exemplify the high cost of not reassessing our ingrained beliefs.

Signs It's Time to Re-examine Your Beliefs

Repeated issues, frequent feelings of anger or shame, or a persistent sense of not being good enough are signs it's time to introspect. These indicators suggest that your unconscious beliefs are clashing with your desires and experiences. Like Emily and Sarah, recognizing these signs can be the first step towards a profound personal and professional evolution.

The Power of Change is in Your Hands

As veterinary professionals and leaders, the power to change your internal landscape is within your grasp. Facing our own baggage involves understanding the beliefs driving us and deciding whether they still serve our purposes. The journeys of Emily and Sarah highlight how embracing change can not only improve our well-being but also enhance our leadership and impact on our teams and practices.

Embracing Change for Personal and Professional Growth

The journey of revising our deeply held beliefs is challenging but rewarding. It enhances personal well-being and sets a positive example for your team, fostering a supportive and understanding workplace. Through their stories, Emily and Sarah demonstrated that letting go of limiting beliefs and embracing new, empowering ones can lead to significant personal and professional growth, transforming not just their lives but also the lives of those around them.

Conclusion: A Call to Conscious Leadership and Living

As veterinary professionals, we have a unique opportunity to lead by example in clinical practice and personal development. By facing our own baggage and embracing change, we open the door to a more fulfilling life and career. The journey to self-awareness and growth is a powerful step toward creating the life and professional environment you desire.

Emily's and Sarah's stories are testaments to the importance of examining our beliefs and how they influence our work and lives. By facing up to and tweaking these thoughts, we can really change things for the better, for ourselves and everyone around us. As a coach specialising in the veterinary field, I'm here to guide you through this process of self-discovery and transformation. Together, we can uncover the beliefs holding you back and pave the way for a more conscious, fulfilling professional journey.