UNLEASHED (at work & home) with Colleen Pelar

Marika Bell, MA, CPDT-KA

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

Rebecca Johnson, CPDT-KA, FPPE

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

Sarah Pellizzari, LCSW, KPA-CTP

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

Kathrine Christ - ”All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.” Gandalf/J.R.R. Tolkein

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 - Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB

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

Validation - Lisa Radosta, DVM, DACVB

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 - 7 Perfectly Good Reasons for Imposter Feelings

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. 

How to Notice and Shift Limiting Beliefs

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

 

Abundance - Meredith Jones, DVM

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?

Nerds - Hannah Branigan

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