The Business of Practice: Silencing Your Inner Critic

In this episode of The Business of Practice podcast, we talked with Julie Squires, a certified compassion fatigue specialist and master certified life coach, about how equine veterinarians can silence their inner critics.

Everyone has a voice in their head that is sometimes unkind. Squires said when we take that negative talk to heart, “it becomes what we believe.” Because humans descended from ancestors who had to be hypervigilant to survive, we are naturally anxious. Negative thoughts can create feelings that lead to stress and nervous system deregulation. Fortunately, there are tools and resources that can help us regulate.

To make your critical inner voice more supportive, start by noticing the triggers that send you into fight or flight, and ask yourself, “What does safety look like?” Squires likes to place her hand on her heart and say to herself, “Oh darling, I’m so sorry that happened to you.” She suggested reframing your inner voice by turning it into a caretaker instead of a critic.

If a friend or colleague is beating themselves up over a mistake or misstep, Squires recommends validating their feelings but also asking them, “what would feel like the support you need right now?” This question helps people think about what they need in the moment.

In closing, she reminded listeners that everyone has an inner critic and said, “Don’t believe that you are broken.” She shared her adaptation of Teddy Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena”:

It is not the critic who counts; not the woman who points out how the strong woman stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the woman who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends herself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if she fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that her place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

About Julie Squires

Julie Squires is a certified compassion fatigue specialist and master certified life coach on a mission to transform the world of animal workers. As a young adult with a bachelor’s degree in zoology, she worked as a veterinary assistant in a private practice until she eventually left for a career in veterinary sales and training, working for organizations such as Purina, Bayer Animal Health, and IDEXX Laboratories. Years later, she returned to the practice where she began her journey in veterinary medicine as the hospital administrator. Observing and experiencing the stresses for team members in veterinary medicine, she made a goal of helping others in the industry thrive. She studied to become a master certified life coach and certified compassion fatigue specialist. Unlike most coaches in the world, she works specifically with veterinarians, animal research professionals, and animal welfare advocates who face challenges unique to their industry. She understands what it takes to care and advocate for animals while meeting all the demands that come with that, in and outside of work. Whether coaching, speaking, or working with groups, she brings authenticity and kindness.

You can find Julie Squires at www.juliesquires.net.

Related Reading

• The Business of Practice: How Equine Veterinarians Can Build Confidence
• The Business of Practice: Veterinary Well-Being Study Results
• Perspectives on Entering Equine Practice

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