Thrive DVM Podcast

What if the most detrimental thing about stress was dictated by what we THINK about stress?

Even crazier, what if REFRAMING our mindset around stress actually made us healthier, happier and more resilient?

On this week's episode it is my distinct honor to have interviewed Stanford psycologist, author, and dance teacher Kelly McGonigal, PhD. Author of the game-changing book "The Upside of Stress" (among others!), Kelly and I deep-dive into all things STRESS: how it got it's bad wrap and how embracing stress can make us stronger, more resilient, and more fulfilled people, and how to cultivate the mindset to do so.

Life is full of stressors, it means we've got something we care about. What if we learned to embrace it and allow it to grow us, to make us more compassionate and fulfilled?

I hope you'll love this conversation as much as I did!

About the Author:

Kelly McGonigal is a health psychologist who specializes in understanding the mind-body connection. She is the best-selling author of The Willpower Instinct and The Upside of Stress. Her latest book, The Joy of Movement, explores why physical exercise is a powerful antidote to the modern epidemics of depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

Check out Kelly's website: http://kellymcgonigal.com/

Find Kelly on instagram: @kellymariemcgonigal

It's time to take some ACTION.

On this week's episode, we're taking a look at the steps we can take that cultivate more confidence. You'll notice that amongst all these steps there's one major pattern...getting out of your HEAD, and taking ACTION!

Confidence isn't something gained through THINKING about or RUMINATING on it, it's gained through trial and error, taking risks, and letting go of the things that get in the way.

You'll find some big mindset adjustments, but also very TANGIBLE and actionable tips you can implement TODAY in this episode!

Let's gooooooooo!

Why are some people more confident than others???

Genetics? Gender roles? Personal beliefs? Mindset?

Yes. Yes. Yes. YES.

Turns out there are a variety of factors that affect an individual level of confidence - but the BEST news is that NONE of it is absolute and all of it has room for development!

This week we're discussing some of these things that can be stumbling blocks on our path to more confidence demonstrated in the literature surrounding confidence including our genetic make-up, our societal norms AND the beliefs and mindsets we have that might just require some digging into BEFORE we can really pursue authentic confidence.

You better believe that there's an actionable piece in this episode and I think it's one you're going to benefit from - hope you love it!

What's something most people feel like they don't have enough of and definitely want more of?

CONFIDENCE.

Okay, there are a lot of things that fit that criteria, but this week we're starting our monthlong discussion on CONFIDENCE - what it is, what stands in the way of getting it, how to get it and how to pay it forward.

On this week's discussion we're talking specifically about what I feel is THE prerequisite for cultivating true confidence as well as some resources to help you get started and/or continue on your path.

Additional Resources:

The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

Myers-Briggs testing at 16personalities.com

Enneagram testing, try free tests online, but then read up!

The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin at https://quiz.gretchenrubin.com/

Wholehearted Inventory at https://brenebrown.com/wholeheartedinventory/

Values List at https://daretolead.brenebrown.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Values.pdf

Do you find yourself consistently running into a wall with someone, getting more and more frustrated that they just. don't. get. it???

In a world where we tend to avoid pain and discomfort (see last week's episode), difficult conversations are the first thing to go. But these conversations that seek clarity and understanding, while uncomfortable, are the only path forward.

Whether it's with a client, a manager, or a partner, clear communication and setting expectations is not only necessary but it's what we ought to extend to one another.

As Brene Brown often says "Clear is kind", I hope you'll listen along this week to discuss WHY that is and HOW we can move forward, extending kindness through clarity.

In an attempt to avoid "negative" emotions, are we actually taking it too far and creating more hardship for ourselves and others?

I think we can recognize that there's a prevailing message, particularly in social media, that tells us to "stay positive" or "positive vibes only" - a direct result from a cultural shift towards the avoidance of pain and suffering. But by doing this, are we actually creating MORE suffering for ourselves and others?

On this week's episode we're discussing that and some practical tips on balancing having a "positive outlook" and "toxic positivity".

Every now and again I'll get questions like "WHY did you start this podcast, especially with everything you've got going on?!" and less commonly but still sometimes I'll get "HOW DO YOU START A PODCAST!", so on this week's episode I'm answering both.

Here's what I really hope you take away from this episode, ESPECIALLY if you have zero interest in ever having a podcast...it's not as hard as you think it is to pursue your dreams. You're probably overthinking it when you should take action instead!

You'll hear on this episode how long it took me to finally do the damn thing and launch this podcast (and boy oh boy did I not even FATHOM how amazing this community would turn out to be), and then how honestly SIMPLE it was to do once I did a little (free) research on the internet. I TOTALLY overthought the process and didn't give myself enough credit, and something tells me, that might resonate with you.

So whatever you're sitting on that you want to do but either feel underqualified or think it's going to be expensive and complicated - it's probably not and you definitely ARE qualified. I HOPE that's your takeaway here!

PS - you'll hear me talking about my time as a Beachbody coach as part of the journey of getting me here. I'm not actively coaching anymore, I'm not trying to sell you on that, but I am FOREVER grateful for my time as a coach because of the people I met, the lessons I've learned and tbh their workouts and pre-workout formula are kickass and I love them. Again, not recruiting, but my story isn't complete without including the influence my coaching community had on me and I love them forever for it ;) I wouldn't be here doing this without them and to be frank, I probably wouldn't have completed my residency without them either.

Can I let you in on a little secret?

About 2-4 months into my first year out of veterinary school I was FREAKING. OUT. Is this what it's going to be like forever? Why don't I feel excited about this anymore? I worked so HARD to get here and wanted this SO badly, so why am I ALREADY kind of...OVER IT?

On this week's episode we're talking about the very TYPICAL thing that happens in the first year after accomplishing such a huge thing like graduating from your doctoral program - a SLUMP. And what to do about it!

The answer might surprise you!

Our lives are a cumulation of our habits.

So how do we go about incorporating habits we desire for GROWTH and PROGRESS?

On this week's episode we're taking the first steps on building NEW habits that SERVE us with some TANGIBLE and ACTIONABLE steps!

Is it just me, or is everyone kinda going THROUGH it right now?

Most people I talk to lately feel that to some degree they're in the midst of a difficult or stressful season of life, and everything suggests that for the MOST part, MINDSET is the single best indicator of how well we navigate those seasons and how we will come away from those seasons!

On this week's episode, we're taking a less conventional approach to navigating difficult seasons.

First and foremost - reorienting ourselves with "stress". Truthfully, stress is part of the human experience, and both personal experience as well as data and research demonstrate that trying to eliminate stress is NOT the answer. Rather, embracing the ADAPTIVE power of stress and how it can actually IMPROVE performance and lead to resiliency appears to be the single best way to HACK the stress response in your FAVOR.

Additionally, we're discussing how to strike a balance between "grow through what you go through"/"life is happening FOR you, to TO you" mentality while also ACKNOWLEDGING the reality of difficult seasons of life.

I'm proposing some unconventional wisdom this week and I hope you'll listen and come away from this week's episode asking yourself some different questions and showing yourself a whole lot of compassion!