Center for Workplace Happiness

Did you know that your brain can’t tell the difference between what you’re thinking and what you’re living? Brains don’t know reality, and for proof of that, let’s talk about a famous canine – Pavlov’s dog.

That guy Pavlov teased his dog a lot, using people in lab coats, metronomes and bells to trick his dog into thinking food might be coming. The dog salivated even when there was no food – his brain thought there would be food, which created a food-related response in his body.

This works in people too – your brain can make you feel calm or feel stressed or sad, just by reminding you of things that have triggered those responses in the past. The good news is you can control your brain – Mom teaches people how to do it all the time so they can feel good. 

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians!

Don’t fight change.

Well, actually, it’s good not to fight about anything if you can help it – fighting just gets you a bite on the nose from some mean dog that can’t take a joke!

Seriously, change is the one constant in this world – it’s funny that humans hate it so much. Everything changes and change keeps the world from being boring. Can you imagine what life would be like without change…nothing would ever happen. Babies wouldn’t grow up – heck, they wouldn’t even get born, because they sure change a LOT in 9 months!

Change is good. Embrace change. Change is the thing that keeps life interesting. Even when it looks not very good, you can probably find a thing or two to like about it.

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians!

Want a brain trick that’ll help you solve problems and be happier? When something looks like it’s going wrong, find three good things about it.

Let’s pretend I was riding in the car and someone hit us from behind. That’s not good – that’s the way I get in and out of the car, so can I get out or am I stuck in here forever??? Three good things – I was in a crate so I didn’t go bouncing around, mom was buckled in so she didn’t either and the fire truck is here to get the back hatch open.

Finding three good things to focus on keeps you from focusing on all the bad things and helps you figure out the best next steps to take.

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians!

When was the last time you took a vacation? When is the next time? Mom takes me to dog shows all the time so we get mini-vacations and those are fun. Think about your next vacation – where will you go, who will go with you, what will you do? Have fun planning the details and thinking about what you’ll do and see and experience. Because here’s the secret to vacations – they’re fun from the moment you start planning them until long after they’re over when you remember to enjoy them inside your brain before, during and after.

I’m Kacey and I love veterinarians!