The Five Freedoms Revisited-Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston-4 Part Series
The 5 Freedoms Revisited – An Epilogue (Part 1)
By Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston
The high burnout and suicide rate in
the veterinary profession cannot be our norm, and it doesn’t have to be. While
reading Dr. Don DeForge’s article “The Veterinary 5 Freedoms”, I appreciated
his inspiration from a speech designed to rally change for “a world attainable
in our own time and generation”. Change is possible starting now – today.
You summit a mountain one small step at a time. As a profession we need to be
asking, “what specifically needs to change to foster a sustainable, thriving
profession and what is the first smallest step that I can do today to move
towards that?” As I read the Five Freedoms article, many thoughts came to mind
about how we can use inspiration from the Five Freedoms to create positive
change in vet med starting today. Here’s part 1!
Freedom From Fear
When I think about feeling free, I
think about not being held back, restricted, or weighed down from something. Fear
is a normal human experience and unavoidable. But in order to unchain myself
and to have freedom from fear I needed to change my relationship to
it. That was an integral part of my journey recovering from burnout.
One concept that helped me was
learning that in the Hebrew language, they have different words for different
kinds of fear. "Yirah" is a good fear - the fear you get when you're
stepping outside of your comfort zone or into more energy than you're used
to. For example, the exhilarated nervous feeling I experienced when I started
being seen and speaking out about the changes that need to happen in vet med
despite previously being very shy and never wanting to “rock the boat” or draw
attention to myself.
In comparison, "pachad" is a
more primal terror or imagined fear. For example, the anxiety I used to
feel lying awake at night thinking about the worst-case scenarios that could
hypothetically happen during the big dog spay I had the next morning. Seeing
fear in different ways helped me to respond differently to each type so that
they no longer weighed me down and held me back.
By embracing curiosity and a growth
mindset, I realized that much of my imposter syndrome and anxiety stemmed from
a pachad fear when I imagined scenarios of “failing” that weren’t even
reality. By noticing that pattern, I was able to take away its power. It helped
me to start training my brain to see my successes instead of fails and to
become aware and call out when my inner critic (the negative judgmental voice
in my head) was creating hypothetical, unhelpful “movies” in my mind or
thoughts that weren’t true.
Learning how to lean into the
"yirah" feeling and going after the things that felt scary but
exhilarating and empowering led me down a path to a life better than I thought
possible. It turns out when I follow that yirah fear, that’s when I feel most
fulfilled and alive! I learned anti-anxiety tools so that I can tell my nervous
system “it’s okay – I’ve got this” when I step outside of my comfort zone to do
things in order to grow.
What’s the first smallest step you can
take to achieve freedom from fear? Learn and start using anti-anxiety tools so
that fear doesn’t weigh you down. Watch the first talk in the free “Beat The Burnout” series I hosted for the veterinary community: “Anti-Anxiety Tools That Actually
Work”. You’ll be empowered with tools to calm your nervous system in the moment
(even in the middle of a surgery or talking to a disrespectful client) and
learn tips to start taming your inner critic and unhelpful patterns so you can
change your relationship with fear.
Freedom Of Speech and Self-expression
Thank goodness for freedom of speech
and self-expression and for conversations within the profession from different
perspectives about how we can create positive change! We need more of this
– including your voice, Reader.
What’s a small doable step? Leave a
comment on this post or share this article on social media with your own unique
perspective and thoughts. Your voice and opinions matter and we look forward to
hearing from you.
Stay tuned for part 2.
Sign up for the “Beat The Burnout”
series at www.lifeboost.today/beatburnout
Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston is a
recovered burnt out vet, integrative health + life coach and change worker, and
co-chair of the Veterinary Genesis Initiative.
Other ways to connect:
·
Email to amelia@lifeboost.today
·
Instagram:
@lifeboostwithamelia
·
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lifeboostwithamelia
·
Vets and vet students are welcome to join the “Beat The Burnout: Life
Boost for Vets” Facebook group for community support
·
Visit www.lifeboost.today to learn more about additional resources and programs
available
The 5 Freedoms Revisited – An Epilogue
(Part 2): Freedom From Want
By Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston
The high burnout and
suicide rate in the veterinary profession cannot be our norm, and it doesn’t
have to be. Dr. Don DeForge’s article “The Veterinary 5 Freedoms” was inspired
from a speech designed to rally change for “a world attainable in our own time
and generation”. Change is possible starting now – today. As a profession
we need to be asking, “what specifically needs to change to foster a
sustainable, thriving profession and what is the first smallest step that I can
do today to move towards that?” As I read the Five Freedoms article, many
thoughts came to mind about how we can use inspiration from the Five Freedoms
to create positive change in vet med starting today. Here’s part 2.
Freedom From Want
From my perspective, freedom from want means fully
embracing and exploring it without shame, self-blame, or judgment. Many of my
clients are vets who feel burnt out because they feel stuck and exhausted –
I’ve been there, too. They want something different, yet they don't actually
allow themselves to fully explore why specifically they want it to be different
or how that could be possible. Curiosity opens the door to clarity,
opportunity, and a path towards a fulfilling life.
Here are some examples of what I mean:
When I was burnt out, I wanted to leave the profession,
but self-blame, shame, and judgment kept me stuck. I blamed myself for all the
money and time I had invested in a career that made me unhappy, so despite
wanting something different I told myself “too bad, this is what you signed up
for”. I worried what peers, friends, and family would think if I did something
else, and so I stayed stuck doing what I thought others expected me to do
instead of listening to what my heart needed. I judged and found something
wrong with every thought I had about what I would do if I wasn’t a vet instead
of allowing myself space and time to explore the things I felt drawn to without
having to have it all “figured out” right away.
The moment I started ditching judgment and embraced
curiosity is when I started my path towards recovery from burnout. Curiosity
set me free from a cage I had unknowingly created. WHY did I want to
leave the profession specifically? How did I imagine it would make me FEEL? What
did I want instead? Why didn’t I think I could have that?
Burnout happens when you’re totally overwhelmed and in
survival mode. I thought I wanted to leave the profession, because at the core
I wanted to feel safe. In survival mode, my brain had generalized and
interpreted the entire profession as unsafe. The moment I allowed myself to
feel like I had options, I started to feel safe again. It was like the cage
door opened. Once my perspective changed and I wasn’t trapped in the giant
category of VET MED, I was able to start noticing specific moments in the
profession that were leading to overwhelm and drained energy. When you identify
the specific scenarios that feel the opposite of how you want to feel (ex:
stressful, draining), then you can get clear on how you want to feel INSTEAD
and what needs to happen for them to feel less threatening or challenging.
At the time, I didn’t have the anti-anxiety tools that I know
now. Not once in my vet career did someone teach me tools to release stress.
That needs to change. At the core of burnout is someone who desperately wants
to feel safe again. That’s why anti-anxiety tools that have the power to instantly
decrease stress (even in the middle of a surgery) are the first thing I empower
my clients with. You can’t think clearly when you’re stuck in a stress response.
My mission is to empower everyone in the veterinary
profession with anti-anxiety tools so that using stress-relieving techniques
throughout the day becomes as routine as a physical exam. These should be
taught in veterinary school. To learn tools you can start putting into practice
immediately, watch the “Anti-Anxiety Tools That Actually Work” webinar (link at
the end of this article).
Once overwhelmed vets are able to shift out of survival
mode, they can start noticing the specific moments in the profession that are
leading to overwhelm and drained energy.
Examples of draining scenarios:
· Feeling like your hands are tied when every walk-in is accepted leading to feeling so rushed that you can’t provide quality care, unhappy owners, and a frazzled and defeated team who are more likely to make mistakes
When you identify specific scenarios, then you can get
clear on what you want INSTEAD. That almost always relates to establishing
boundaries to protect your energy and safety - either with yourself, others, or
your environment. In the examples above, establishing a zero tolerance for
bullies policy within the hospital would dramatically decrease those scenarios.
Listen to the “No More Bullies: Overcoming Toxic Clients and The Negative
Thoughts Weighing You Down” webinar for more details on what that looks like
and how to implement it. The first step is pausing as soon as you see a
stress/trauma response being displayed by a human or animal.
When getting curious about why certain situations are
overwhelming or draining, specificity is important in order to identify the
appropriate solution. For example, if surgeries feel overwhelming or draining,
get curious about why. Have there been recent complications and why
specifically did that happen? Is there a lack of mentorship or need for CE? Is
your brain used to worrying and making up worst case scenarios despite good
outcomes? Are you struggling with imposter syndrome? Are there specific
surgeries that are most stressful or draining and are there any you enjoy? Do
you thrive on client interaction and prefer appointments? Each of these offers
a different path forward, yet all require a foundation of feeling more
comfortable and safe.
Being honest and fully exploring “want” is advantageous
for the entire veterinary team. For example, I often see vets wanting a raise
but they negotiate themselves down from asking for what they truly want because
their inner critic tells them they’re being “selfish” or “unreasonable” or “too
much”. Yet when they ask for less than what they truly want, getting the raise
actually feels disappointing. Afterwards, the vet may wonder if they could have
asked for what they really wanted leaving them feeling disappointed in
themselves and unsatisfied. The employer unknowingly misses an opportunity to
show how much they value their employee, because their employee wasn’t honest
about what they actually want or need to feel valued.
Here’s how curiosity can change it: as soon as judgment
shows up, get curious. Why is it “unreasonable”? Is that based on facts or is
that your imposter syndrome talking? Why do you want a raise? Do you not feel
valued in your workplace? Are you stressed about finances? Why specifically?
How will it make you feel to have that raise? What else makes you feel that
way?
If it would help you to feel appreciated and valued, have
you given your employer feedback on the times that you do feel appreciated and
valued so that they know how to?
The “How To Create A Workplace Where It’s Convenient To
Thrive” webinar outlines ways employers can help their staff feel truly valued
and appreciated. What if your employer was willing to watch it and initiated a
conversation about the parts of the job that were draining versus boosting your
energy? The webinar also provides an opportunity for the entire veterinary team
to have a discussion afterward watching sharing which tips and suggestions
excited everyone the most.
Freedom from want means not being afraid, ashamed, or
weighed down by it. Here are small steps you can take to start getting clear on
what you want:
1. Shift out of survival mode to establish a foundation
of safety by using the anti-anxiety tools taught in the “Anti-Anxiety Tools
That Actually Work” webinar.
2. Start a wish list and allow yourself to write down
everything you would love to have (totally unfiltered) to start exercising your
want muscle.* Don’t negotiate yourself down or leave it off the list because
it’s “unreasonable”. Allow yourself to put down on paper what you really truly
want. Then ask why.
· How would you FEEL if you had it?
· How would your day-to-day life be different if you had the thing you want compared to your life now?
· What is something you can do today to get even 5% closer to that feeling?
Once you have clarity on what really excites you, start to get curious. How could that be possible in or outside of vet med? For example, before embarking on entrepreneurship and becoming a coach, I started a wellness blog as a creative outlet to share my message and passion with others. That blog brought me a lot of joy and gave me something else to focus on outside of vet med.
3. For more support in exploring how veterinary
professionals can protect their energy and get clear on what they need to
flourish in vet med, watch the series of webinars in the Beat The Burnout
series by signing up at www.lifeboost.today/beatburnout.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or have a hard time speaking up for what you
want/need and establishing boundaries, these webinars are a great place to
start!
Here are the webinars available:
· No More Bullies: Overcoming Toxic Clients and The Negative Thoughts Weighing You Down
· Energy and Boundaries: Thriving In Vet Med and Beyond
· How To Create A Workplace Where It’s Convenient To Thrive
Your opinion and perspective matters! Please share your
thoughts in the comments or send me a message at amelia@lifeboost.today.
Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston is a
recovered burnt out vet, integrative health + life coach and change worker, and
co-chair of the Veterinary Genesis Initiative.
Other ways to connect:
·
Email to amelia@lifeboost.today
·
Instagram:
@lifeboostwithamelia
·
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lifeboostwithamelia
·
Vets and vet students are welcome to join the “Beat The Burnout: Life
Boost for Vets” Facebook group for community support
·
Visit www.lifeboost.today to learn more about additional resources and programs
available
*This exercise was inspired by Kasia Urbaniak’s
“Book of Desires” exercise in her book, Unbound.
The 5 Freedoms Revisited – An Epilogue (Part 3): Finding Purpose
By Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston
The high burnout and
suicide rate in the veterinary profession cannot be our norm, and it doesn’t
have to be. Dr. Don DeForge’s article “The Veterinary 5 Freedoms” was inspired
from a speech designed to rally change for “a world attainable in our own time
and generation”. Change is possible starting now – today. As a profession
we need to be asking, “what specifically needs to change to foster a
sustainable, thriving profession and what is the first smallest step that I can
do today to move towards that?” As I read the Five Freedoms article, many
thoughts came to mind about how we can use inspiration from the Five Freedoms
to create positive change in vet med starting today. Here’s part 3.
Freedom of Worship
and Finding Purpose
In Dr. Don DeForge’s article “The Veterinary
5 Freedoms”, one of the freedoms is Freedom of Worship. I agree that this is a
complex topic in 2023. Yet, when I think of worship – in all its different
forms – I think of something that offers meaning, a sense of purpose, and
resilience when things feel hard. Those qualities are critical for a
sustainable and thriving career in vet med.
In Dr. DeForge’s article, he shares a
vet’s perspective on worship. At the end of the quote it says, “Call it what you wish but never stop believing how important
your role is to the patient and the patient advocate. It is your gift to the
world.” As a profession we must identify how
to provide that gift in a way that is fulfilling rather than a burden.
No one goes into the veterinary
profession by accident. We are determined and follow our hearts. A thought
provoking question that author Mark Manson asks is, “What are you willing to
struggle for?”. Every veterinary professional makes the decision that they are
willing to struggle in order to help animals. Yet that desire alone is
challenged when in the “real world” that is not always possible. Finances,
owner decisions, time, resources, lack of fear free techniques, poor prognoses,
and even mistakes can all get in the way of feeling like you are helping
animals. If a passion for saving animals is the only thing that makes the
struggle of vet med worthwhile, then that foundation that drew them into the profession
starts to crumble under the weight of the brutal reality of the profession that
sometimes our hands are tied and we cannot save them all.
Identifying your core values is a
powerful way to start identifying how to find purpose even on the hard days in
vet med. Core values are the principles that matter most to you. When you think
about all the things that you care about, that give you energy, that you are
most interested in, and that you could talk about or read about forever, boil
those things down to 2-4 words. What are the common themes? What is it about
those things that make them so appealing, comforting, or energizing? I call
those 2-4 words your “authentic core”. Your authentic core can serve as a
guiding light for how to live a fulfilling life – in and outside of vet med.
When faced with challenges, tough decisions, and hard days, finding ways to
connect with your authentic core can provide resilience, clarity, comfort, and
an opportunity to recharge.
For example, my authentic core is
wellbeing, connection, adventure, and influence. Identifying those helped me to
have clarity on why I had reached burnout. Family, friends, hikes, being
outside, animals, great conversations, time alone, learning, working out,
eating nourishing food, and journaling are some things that interest me and
bring me joy and energy. Why? What is it about those things that makes my heart
happy? Connection. One common theme is a genuine feeling of connection with
humans, animals, nature, my body, myself, our world, and even expanding my mind
and perspective to see how things are connected through learning. A sense of
connection lights me up at the core. Note that you can see how some of my other
core values tie in to the things I listed, too!
When I was at the height of burnout
in early covid, I had lost as sense of connection. Prior to COVID, I had
already started to feel disconnected and alone. I had dreamed of being a vet
since age 6, and yet I was miserable. I felt disconnected from the life I had
imagined, and I felt disconnected from who I was outside of being a vet and
what I wanted. Close friends and family tried to be supportive, but they also
didn’t really “get” what vet med was truly like which made me feel alone.
Once COVID hit, isolation rather than
connection became the focus. Instead of getting to interact with clients in
exam rooms, I felt disconnected due to the briefer conversations over the phone
or Facetiming. Technical issues and games of phone tag further highlighted the
challenges of connecting. Many patients were more stressed being taken from
their owners and the rushed and more chaotic environment as new protocols were
tested all made it harder to feel connected with my patients. Facial
expressions were masked making it harder to feel connected with coworkers, and
I couldn’t travel to see family.
One of the things that helped me to
start recovering from burnout was prioritizing a sense of connection in my day.
Instead of dreading going into work, I made it my mission to see how many
genuine connections I could have. During phone calls with owners, I started to
smile more despite wearing a mask and used it as an opportunity to practice
finding ways to connect based on people’s different phone styles. I started
joking with my coworkers more and looked for moments to savor cuddling or
comforting a patient. At the same time, I had started to take my integrative
nutrition health coaching program which opened my eyes to new ways of
understanding and connecting with my body and mind. By shifting my focus to
something that was meaningful to me, I was able to find purpose even without my
vet med circumstances changing. That unleashed more energy, hope, and
motivation to be able to take more steps towards my most fulfilling path.
What’s the first smallest step you
can take towards feeling a sense of purpose in vet med? Start a brain dump of
all the things that you care about or that interest you and give you energy so
that you can start thinking about the common themes and your authentic core. You
do not need to stay stuck in a career that leaves you drained every day. Once
you identify your core values, there are lots of creative ways to reconnect
with the passion that once drew you into the profession in a way that feels
sustainable.
For more on this topic, check out the
“How To Create A Workplace Where It’s Convenient To Thrive” webinar. I discuss
how conversations around each employee’s core values can lead to high retention
and a thriving team. Helping staff to identify how their core values
specifically tie into the hospital’s mission statement is an incredibly
powerful way to help employees to feel a sense of purpose at work – especially
in challenging situations. While a willingness to struggle when it is tied to a
sense of meaning and purpose aids in resilience, vet med has confused this with
self-sacrifice. In the webinar, I discuss the importance of creating a culture
where basic necessities are prioritized in order to have the energy for
sustainable success in and outside of vet med. You cannot save others if you do
not put your “oxygen mask” on first.
Stay tuned for Part 4 for a
discussion around how the 5 Freedoms For Animals needs to also be applied to
humans in order to thrive in vet med and beyond.
Sign up for the Beat The Burnout
webinar “How To Create A Workplace Where It’s Convenient To Thrive” at www.lifeboost.today/beatburnout.
Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston is a
recovered burnt out vet, integrative health + life coach and change worker, and
co-chair of the Veterinary Genesis Initiative.
Other ways to connect:
- Email to amelia@lifeboost.today
· LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lifeboostwithamelia
· Vets and vet students are welcome to join the “Beat The Burnout: Life Boost for Vets” Facebook group for community support
· Visit www.lifeboost.today to learn more about additional resources and programs available
The 5 Freedoms Revisited – An Epilogue Part 4: Self-Compassion
By Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston
The high burnout and
suicide rate in the veterinary profession cannot be our norm, and it doesn’t
have to be. Dr. Don DeForge’s article “The Veterinary 5 Freedoms” was inspired
from a speech designed to rally change for “a world attainable in our own time
and generation”. Change is possible starting now – today. As a profession
we need to be asking, “what specifically needs to change to foster a
sustainable, thriving profession and what is the first smallest step that I can
do today to move towards that?” As I read the Five Freedoms article, many
thoughts came to mind about how we can use inspiration from the Five Freedoms
to create positive change in vet med starting today. Here’s part 4.
Freedom From The Fear of Self
Compassion
Self-compassion is at the core of
beating burnout and creating positive change in the veterinary profession (and
world). It is impossible to take care of and save others when you don’t put
your oxygen mask on first. When we treat ourselves with kindness and compassion,
we have so much more energy and patience to have kindness towards those around
us and our world. With 1 in 3 veterinarians and half of all vet techs
classified as having high burnout (and another quarter “moderate” burnout)
according to Merck’s Veterinary Wellbeing study, we have proof that the
self-sacrifice culture in vet med is unsustainable.
As I read about the “5 Freedoms For Animals”
in Dr. DeForge’s article, I couldn’t help but note how important those are to
veterinary professionals, as well! The veterinary profession has normalized and
rewarded a self-sacrifice culture where these basic foundations of physical and
mental health are treated as luxuries rather than necessities. Just because
that’s how we have “always done things” does not mean we should continue to do
so. What we’re doing isn’t working. We must be asking, “how can we create a
humane environment where it’s convenient to thrive?”.
The 5 Freedoms for Animals highlight
areas for us to question as humans in vet med:
·
Freedom from hunger and thirst: How
often are lunch breaks skipped?
·
Freedom from discomfort: How can we
create a workplace where it's convenient to feel good? For example,
prioritizing basic necessities like moments of sunlight/fresh air, rest
(including a brain break), time to sit down and nourish and refuel your body
and brain without frantically catching up on notes in-between hurried bites?
·
Freedom from pain, injury, and
disease: How can we create a culture where people don't come to work sick? If
staff are coming to work sick frequently, WHY? Why might their environment not
be supporting a thriving immune system?
·
Freedom to express normal behavior: We
must as a profession acknowledge, discuss, and normalize the spectrum of
thoughts and emotions we encounter in vet med and talk about and practice ways
to process the variety of emotions we experience throughout the day. For
example, utilizing anti-anxiety tools regularly. These are skills and discussions
that need to be starting in vet school.
·
Freedom from fear and distress: In
order to beat burnout, we must establish a zero tolerance for bullies policy in
vet med. That starts with recognizing the stress response in humans and
animals, pausing when it's observed, and getting curious about why from their
perspective something is threatening/scary and what needs to happen to
establish safety. Creating a safe workplace is critical - it's impossible to
create a fear-free experience for a pet when a workplace feels threatening and unsafe
to the employees.
What’s a small doable step you can
take today? Start noticing the way that you are treating yourself. How do you
talk to yourself throughout the day? What basic necessities like rest, water,
real food, movement, and sunlight/fresh air get skipped because you’re “too
busy”? Watch the Beat The Burnout series for simple action steps to start
practicing kindness towards yourself.
With the 5 Veterinary Freedoms in
mind, what’s the first smallest step you’re going to take today to support your
well-being in and outside of vet med?
You can sign up for the free series:
“Beat The Burnout: What We Should Have Learned In Veterinary School” at: www.lifeboost.today/beatburnout. You’ll get access to these webinars:
·
Anti-Anxiety Tools
That Actually Work
·
No More Bullies:
Overcoming Toxic Clients and The Negative Thoughts Weighing You Down
·
Energy and
Boundaries: Thriving In Vet Med and Beyond
·
How To Create A
Workplace Where It’s Convenient To Thrive
Your opinion and perspective matters! Please share your
thoughts in the comments or send me a message at amelia@lifeboost.today.
Dr. Amelia Knight Pinkston is a
recovered burnt out vet, integrative health + life coach and change worker, and
co-chair of the Veterinary Genesis Initiative.
Other ways to connect:
·
Instagram:
@lifeboostwithamelia
·
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lifeboostwithamelia
·
Vets and vet students are welcome to join the “Beat The Burnout: Life
Boost for Vets” Facebook group for community support
·
Visit www.lifeboost.today to learn more about additional resources and programs
available
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