8. Identity - with Ebony Escalona

Do you also introduce yourself to others with your job title, such as 'Hello, my name is XX and I am a vet/vet nurse/...'? Well, you may think again after this episode! 

Having a sense of identity can be really important to us. It gives us an idea of who we are and where we belong. However, sometimes identity can also trip us up and we can identify so much with our jobs that there is little else left. Our guest Ebony Escalona founder of the veterinary community Vets: Stay, Go or Diversify is very familiar with the question of identity and has many wise insights and helpful perspectives to share on the topic. Areas covered in this deep and interesting conversation with host Petra include: 

00:57 Introduction to the episode and introducing Ebony

04:49 About Ebony's definition of identity and how it be helpful and unhelpful

10:51 Identity, worthiness, human skills and the question of success

13:29 Shifting from who we are to what we do, and trying identity on for fit

15:16 Ebony's own challenges with identity and learning to hold identity more lightly: non-binary thinking, trying out for fit, learn something new, learn to quit

22:30 Identity and embodied experience

26:22 The importance of unlearning and leaning into discomfort

30:13 Identity, impermanence and overcoming envy

35:32 Human skills revisited

37:12 Giving yourself permission for evolution and development

39:15 Ebony's most favourite resources

40:43 Where to find Ebony and Vets: Stay, Go

00:42:29 Good-bye

You may also be interested in:
Vet Mind Works Podcast Episode 5: Self-awareness with Clive Elwood

Ebony's favourite resources on this topic:
Book: ‘Permission to feel’ by Dr Mark Brackett: https://www.marcbrackett.com/about/book-permission-to-feel/

Podcast: Amazing If – The Squiggly Careers Podcast: https://www.amazingif.com/listen/

Where to find Ebony Escalona and Vets: Stay, Go or Diversify (VSGD):
Social media handles: 
@ebonyescalona 
@vetssgd 
@vetyoucommunity

VSGD website: https://vsgd.co

VSGD: Download free Reflect Align Explore Workbook https://share.hsforms.com/1X1Nl6OM2TJ2GcIYvVA-Tbgbvuzn and Win of the Week workbook https://share.hsforms.com/1H-7RsZlwSGm8x-paMBMopAbvuzn

We are happily funding this podcast ourselves to keep it independent. However, you can show your support by donating towards a fundraising campaign in aid of a mental health project for Ukrainian veterinary colleagues:

This podcast is in partnership with the Veterinary Information Network (VIN). More about VIN here.

We value your feedback! Please email us your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to vetmindworks@gmail.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Facebook

Want to find out more about our hosts ? Follow on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/petra-agthe-562bb65b

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clive-elwood-b7aba216/

Credits:
Music- Deep Ambience by Coma-Media, Pixabay; Images for Artwork- OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

Chapters

• 0:57 Introduction to the episode and introducing Ebony
• 4:49 About Ebony's definition of identity and how it be helpful and unhelpful
• 10:51 Identity, worthiness, human skills and the question of success
• 13:29 Shifting from who we are to what we do, and trying identity on for fit
• 15:16 Ebony's own challenges with identity and learning to hold identity more lightly: non-binary thinking, trying out for fit, learn something new, learn to quit
• 22:30 Identity and embodied experience
• 26:22 The importance of unlearning and leaning into discomfort
• 30:13 Identity, impermanence and envy
• 35:32 Human skills revisited
• 37:12 Giving yourself permission for evolution and development
• 39:15 Ebony's most favourite resources
• 40:43 Where to find Ebony and Vets: Stay, Go
• 42:29 Good-bye