Cats want to have a sense of agency - and so do we!
My day used to go like:
I HAVE to get up and get the girls ready.
I HAVE to hurry so we can all get to school/work on time.
I HAVE to go to work
I HAVE to see all these clients
I HAVE to get out on time so I can pick girls up
I HAVE to make dinner quickly because everybody are hungry and depend on me
And so on….
Saturday I was at a congress and learned that dogs and cats like to get up in the morning and have some sense of agency.
Meaning, they like to have a say in their day. A cat likes to groom when they DECIDE they want to groom, and hunt when they FEEL like it.
And I realised that when my days were driven by a zillion “I HAVE to XYZ” I actually had NO Sense of Agency.
I felt there were no choices in my day.
It made me feel incredibly trapped and stuck.
Which is so weird considering we spend our whole childhood wishing to become adults so we can FINALLY decide what WE want to do.
And then we get so caught up in our own heads that we feel we have no choices anymore.
I want to give you your Sense of Agency back.
Groom and hunt when you want to.
The human version of that is being aware that everything you do as an adult is a choice.
You chose your job, and you re-choose it every day you get up and go. It’s a choice, because you could CHOOSE to stay home and not earn money, or find another job, CHOOSING the consequences of these actions.
Thinking you HAVE to do something leaves your sense of agency depleted.
If you think have no choice in something, then come to a coaching session with me and I’ll show you how it’s just a thought, NOT a fact!
In your corner,
Ready to fall back in love with Vet Med?
If you're feeling overwhelmed, burned out, or doubting yourself — I get it. I've been there. Here's how I can help:
- Book a Free 50-Minute Coaching Consultation — Let's chat about where you are and where you want to be if you're thinking about joining my coaching programme. Book here
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- Download the Free Burnout Guide — 10 ways to overcome burnout in the veterinary clinic. Get it here
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You don't have to do this alone.