We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Miranda Wimbush. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Miranda below.

Hi Miranda, thanks for joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I would like to share a story of a defining moment in my life where I realized that I was disconnected from myself and I was not showing up as the person I wanted to be. It was a moment of reactivity towards my son where I realized that my lack of care for myself and intimacy with my own emotions and needs was directly affecting those around me. That started my healing journey and the desire to support others came out of that.

Miranda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have been an animal lover for as long as I can remember, and so it’s only natural that I devoted my life to caring for and working with them. But somewhere along the way it became my sense of identity, I lost myself in it. Lacking a sense of self and being deeply introverted I relied on dogs for a sense of connection. When I saw how much this was affecting me I went on a healing journey, got to know myself and that confidence boost led to me starting to connect more with people, trusting myself and starting my business, The Mindful Canine.

The Mindful Canine was originally a dog training business but I started to realized in working with dog behaviour that what was missing a lot of the time was self connection for the humans, it was not a dog training issue. Guardians needed support with resiliency to stress, mindfulness of their emotions, and connecting in with themselves so that they could show up better in their relationship with their dogs. In my own journey I saw how much it had helped me and I wanted to pay it forward. Now I work with dog guardians who need a boost, maybe they are having a hard time prioritizing their needs, are working through tough times such as loss or they want to finally discover who they are and value themselves. I offer 1:1 supportive program for both ends of the leash. I really feel like its the missing link and the more self aware people become the more people see it.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I had my son 7 years ago I knew that I did not want to go back to working as a vet tech as I had been doing for about 5 years. The hours were long, the pay was low and at the time I did not enjoy it.

But, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. The answer came one day when a friend of a friend referred someone who had just gotten a new puppy. I spent an hour with them, they paid me for several sessions and then sent me another client who I saw the same day. I remember thinking how easy it was ,it was something I was naturally good at and it had never occured to me that I could make money doing it.

As I look back it took a lot of courage to start my business, it took trust, and it took being open to shifting when things weren’t working. And that continues today, as I pivot my business and messaging it takes so much self belief and courage to choose and forge your own path. What I have realized is that I have that internal reserve and that when I believe in myself and get support anything is possible.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

A lesson that I have had to unlearn is that I can figure it out all on my own. Working with coaches has been super supportive for me both in getting stratgey as well as seeing where my blind spots are. Another area this shows up is hiring support. I did everything in my business for so many years, and also held myself back from things I didn’t know how to do that I wanted to do, rather than just hire someone to help. Truly you go futher when you go together, and it’s much more enjoyable along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mindfulcanine.ca
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miranda.wimbush/
• Other: FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/heartcentredcanineclub Support group for dog guardians who want a more peaceful life

Image Credits
Caroline Hale Allison White