#181: The Positive (& Negative) Impacts of Community

The Joyful DVM Podcast: Empowering Veterinary Professionals

In this episode, Dr. Cari Wise discusses the positive and negative impacts of community on the lives and careers of veterinary professionals.

Dr. Wise defines community as the people we spend the most time with, including colleagues, friends, family, and social or religious groups.

She shares that being part of a community creates a sense of belonging and security, allows for knowledge and resource sharing, and provides a support system of people who understand the challenges and joys of working in veterinary medicine.

However, there are also negative impacts of community, such as the spreading of victim-based perspectives, repeated exposure to negative conversations, and intentional isolation.

Dr. Wise explains that to create a healthy community, it is important to question assumptions, seek empowering perspectives, set boundaries, and not tolerate bullying or disrespectful interactions.

She invites listeners to join the Vet Life Academy, a positive and supportive community for veterinary professionals.

Key Takeaways:

1. Being part of a community creates a sense of belonging and security.

2. Communities provide opportunities for knowledge and resource sharing.

3. Collaborating with others and learning from their experiences helps us develop our own style of practicing veterinary medicine.

4. Having a community of veterinary professionals who can empathize and offer guidance is essential for maintaining our wellbeing and feeling understood.

5. Unchecked spreading of victim-based perspectives can be detrimental to our wellbeing and hinder our personal and professional growth.

6. Repeated exposure to negative conversations can lower our overall emotional state and contribute to feelings of anxiety and frustration.

7. Intentional isolation can prevent us from seeking support and lead to feelings of loneliness and disconnection.

8. Strategies for creating a healthy community include questioning assumptions, seeking empowering perspectives, setting boundaries, and not tolerating bullying or disrespectful interactions.

9. Joining positive and supportive communities can help veterinary professionals create the life and career they desire.

10. We have the power to shape our own experiences and choose the communities that uplift and support us.
Music Credit: Music by Lesfm from Pixabay