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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 su…

One of the techniques I use in my coaching is integrative change work. If you see “integrative change work” and think “🤷‍♀️🤔....?”, that was totally my reaction before becoming certified. It’s not a term you hear every day…although it should be! Just like how we’re going to look back in 10 years and be very embarrassed by how much we ignored gut health, this is going to become VERY popular in the future. 

Have you ever watched a movie that is so well done that by the end you feel like it has …

The 5 Freedoms Revisited – An Epilogue (Part 1)

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 specifical…

You can listen wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. 

Transcript:

Hey Life Booster! This is Dr. Amelia, integrative health and life coach and recovered burnt out veterinarian, here to help you ditch the things that are weighing you down by breaking the norm and living a life that energizes you from within.

I hope that your day is going well, or is off to a good start, depending on when you're listening to this. Earlier today, I had one of the complimentary clarity coachin…

I frequently used to wish that I could just escape from my brain.

I was exhausted - from a job that made me feel empty by the end of the day, from trying to keep up with a never-ending to-do list, from being anxious even when I didn’t know what was making me anxious which made me even more anxious, and from trying so hard and yet always feeling behind.

Yet the moment I would try to relax, my brain would get louder with thoughts like:

• "You don't have time for this"
• "Oh, you never scheduled …

I’ve spent a lot of time asking, “If being healthy is supposed to feel good, why is the norm in our society to be sick, overweight, and/or unhappy?”.

You can learn more about the answer to that question here:

• The 3 Wellness Levels
• Why The Norm Is To Be Sick, Overweight, and Unhappy
• My PSA (podcast episode)

That leads to the next question, "what are the key components to being healthy in a way that feels good and IS sustainable?"

There are so many factors that impact the way you feel ph…

I’ve spent a lot of time asking, “If being healthy is supposed to feel good, why is the norm in our society to be sick, overweight, and/or unhappy?”. I’ve talked about the 3 Wellness Levels, but there's more to the story. Let's dive deeper into the real WHY…

When you think of things you should do to be more healthy, what comes to mind? 

How does your body react? Is there a sense of “woohoo, I can’t wait to get started!” or a feeling of impending doom as if a vacation is about to end?

If you’r…

I spent a lot of time trying to solve this puzzle:

If being healthy is supposed to make us feel good, why are so many people avoiding or exhausted trying to get healthy? Why is it so hard?

This is what I’ve realized:

There are 3 levels when it comes to a wellness journey, yet our society makes it seem like there are only two. Level 1 (I’ll Do It…Tomorrow) and 2 (The Bandwagon) are both unappealing and uncomfortable, so it's no wonder that the norm is to be sick, overweight, and/or unhappy!…

Here’s a summary of why the vet profession has such a high burnout and suicide rate.

The veterinary profession selects people who are deeply empathetic. We become veterinarians because we are following our heart. If we were logical, we would go to medical school where we could make double the salary and focus on one species. Instead, we follow our hearts.

In order to get into vet school, we have to get excellent grades, do tons of extracurriculars, volunteer in animal hospitals, and general…

Blood sugar is one of the 3 Life Boost B's (Belly, Brain, and Blood Sugar), because stable blood sugar is absolutely critical for achieving sustainable weight loss and epic energy in an enjoyable way.

Curious WHY stable blood sugar is key for sustainable weight loss. Let's dive in!

We live in a society where carbs are everywhere.

I’m not talking nourishing, real, whole food carbohydrates like quinoa, beans, or vegetables (yes, those are carbs 🥰) that come with a nice dose of fiber, nutri…