Do you ever catch yourself thinking, “Either I have to do X, or Y terrible thing will happen”? Welcome to dichotomous thinking, one of the sneakiest forms of self-sabotage we fall into. In this episode, Allie and Emily unpack how binary thinking shows up in our industry (and in life), why it’s such a trap, and how to start climbing out of it.

Along the way, you’ll hear stories about superheroes and supervillains, cleavers vs. paring knives, and a very personal example with Copper that shows just how limiting “either/or” thinking can be—even for seasoned professionals. By the end, you’ll have tools to notice when you’re stuck in false dichotomies and strategies to find more creative, compassionate options for you, your clients, and your pets.

TLDL (too long, didn’t listen): 3 Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Dichotomous Thinking = Sneaky Self-Sabotage – Believing you only have two options shuts down creativity, learning, and better solutions.

2️⃣ Spotting the Trap – Watch for “either/or” statements, zero-sum feelings, and the urge to prove someone 100% right or wrong.

3️⃣ Breaking Free – Get curious, ask better questions, bring in other perspectives, and remember: there are usually more than two ways forward.

For the full episode show notes, including the resources mentioned in this episode, go here.

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