Meditations C-D

Wagasana, greeting the day with gratefulness and curiosity!

Have you had a doga moment today!

Enlightened!

Meditations C - D

Caregivers Challenge Changing Children and Dogs Choice Clutter Come Communication Community Consciousness Control Creativity Criticism Cultures Death and Grieving Decision Making Deserving

Dinner Time Dis-ease Divine Guidance Dogs Doing (action) Down Dreams Drives

The disease to please ... What comes to mind (women, caregivers and dogs)

Caregivers are shining lights. We all become caregivers at some point in our lives. Caring for others is an unselfish gift. I have learned from humans and dogs that our bodies know how to handle emergencies and tell us, if we listen, when to "stop." Whether I am a caregiver or care receiver, giving myself time for personal renewal, makes it possible to give more fully to others. Accepting, as dogs do, that illness and death are inevitable, it is as though I can shift gears into a more peaceful place. I can relax, knowing deep in my heart, that all is well. I can ask for help.

Challenge: Our life can become stuck in the muck if we don't challenge ourselves to learn something new every day! Create an action challenge for you and your dog like walking in sequence. Change your route, path and perhaps the journey will be different. Fearful of that boss or walking route where both seem like charging terriers? Take a deep breath, plan a script to ask for that raise, and walk across the street or on a different path. Ask that person whose dog runs into yours (floating leashers) to please hold their dog. There is no excuse to not enjoy the pleasure of knowing that we can create change in our and our dog's lives by challenging ourselves to an inspiring and sometimes scary risk. Start small and grow the challenge.

Three steps forward, two steps back, always one step ahead. Mantra: Yes, we can, me and my dog.

Change and Changing - When I change my thinking, I change my behavior. It is not easy, but chunked into smaller goals, rather than one big leap, it’s achievable. We are creatures of habit. Train Your Dog, Change Your Life evolved (and still evolving) from my paradigms and experiences working with many dogs - including those who share my life. Whether with our family, partners, friends or our dogs, we cannot change an habitual behavior, especially a deep rooted one, until we change our own. With flexibility and flow, we can create a plan for change. This includes our approach to ourselves, which reflects on others including how we communicate with our dogs.

Change is inevitable. Life is ever-changing. We create our own reality. When it is time to change reality, we need to change our minds. We cannot do this without beginning somewhere. Begin with small steps. Horses are prey animals. Dogs are predators. Horses sense imbalance in intent and incongruence (conflict and mis-communication). Dogs are instinctual and relay heavily on body language. They sense genuineness in our body and tone of voice. When we begin to drop our limitations and fear of the familiar, we become aware of the infinite possibilities. Amazing things happen!

Children and Dogs live in a world of discovery. Children and puppies are born as pure and joyful canvases. As we age, we are affected by life's experiences. We have a right to embrace our inner child -- puppy as adults. Negative behaviors will dissolve through compassion, understanding and teaching ourselves, and our dogs, what we want, in an understandable way. Enjoy Children and Dogs for some helpful ways to teach safe interactions, respect and love.

Choice is moving beyond where I am to a place of higher awareness. Every problem has a solution. When I was training as a mediator, I learned to use BATNA. There is always a best alternative to a negotiated agreement at work, home and with our dogs. Win-win is a good option; good for you and for me. Choosing well-being for ourselves and dogs empowers us. Embrace feelings of disappointment when things aren't going as we planned. It is okay to give ourselves time for a a pity party, as long as we let go and move on. What are the solutions? What have we learned to make it different next time?

Clutter: Clear it. Clutter is a defense mechanism that bogs us down like a ball and chain, created to prevent us from reaching our goals. Clutter can fill voids, but it cannot create joy. It can be as easy as opening a drawer and throwing out a pair of underwear or going through a whole closet, getting rid of things you will NEVER wear again. Nothing goes to waste. Pass it along to someone in need. Our dogs toys, blankets, leashes and collars: same ... Is it sentimental, meaningful? All of them? Really? Before cleaning someone else’s closet, it is a good idea to clean your own. If you are giving advise and then trip over your own shoe, the bump is on your head, and dent in your wall.

Come: When you call your dog (others) what is your intention? What does your body language, tone of voice look | sound like? Would you come to you if you called yourself? And if so, would it be out of fear, duty, pleasure or just because it a good place to be? What is the incentive for your dog to come to you? Do they enjoy your company? Is it life saving?

We all have callings in our life (partners, bosses, kids, pets, family, friends). Come-on-recall is a must for all dogs. Otherwise, keep them on leash. It’s a behavior that could save their life. They must trust and know that you, as a respected pack leader, are making the call for a good reason. Start small with little, successful come to me’s. Turn and run, shaking it up a bit. Let them sniff a delicious, healthy treat first, then STAY, short distance away first, then incrementally increase this.

Stay is as relevant as Come. (Dog Talk Media -- The Learning Zone).

Communication: All species communicate with a variety of vocalizations, body language, diversity, drives and familiarities. All help us survive and thrive everyday. Communication can enhance or detract, empower or dis-empower. It can help us and our dogs get what we want, or not, depending on how the message is transmitted, encoded and perceived. Communication for all species is a skill. Puppies begin learning just as infants do. They are conditioned by their parents as we are. As adults, we are resilient and can learn ways to more effectively communicate our needs and wants. At work we learn that how we communicate to others will help us achieve our goals. Our dogs learn how to do get their needs met by communicating -- barking, whining, jumping, digging and chewing. Everyday, try to communicate with meaning, clarity and love. One of the most powerful experiences I have learned over the years in business, writing, living and learning with dogs is that it is not what the species is -- but do they understand what I am communicating? Is it with respect? How do I (they) feel afterward. Practice on self, then try it on others.

Community: No act of kindness is too big or small. Everyone can be part of the healing process of the planet. Everyone can make a difference in their own unique way to prevent one dog from being put into a shelter or to sleep. Every time I think a thought, it connects to like-minded people who are thinking the same thoughts. When I take action to make a difference, it changes my life and other's lives. Moving to new levels of consciousness / mindfulness requires courage to take that one small step every day to change old patterns, judgments, guilt or fear. Dogs practice unconditional love better then most species, but they are not unconditional. They have species related conditions (SRC). They love better then we do as humans. They tolerate more then we do. They do have their limits. We can learn from their ability and resilience to bounce back, and learn to live with us. To begin, open your heart to all beings on the planet, and especially your dog. When you change, when you respect their differences and teach them yours, they will understand and join up.

Consciousness: “What I see in the world is a mirror of what I have in my mind” (Louise Hay). Things that happen to me can only control me if I allow it. The brain can change itself (The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge, MD). Empower yourself by using your mind (and dogs) to show you how to change.

Very often dogs mirror our behaviors and energy. Intuitively, we know what to do. Take negative or positive energy and turn it into life-long experiences. Learning, growing and changing happens when we are aware of what we are doing (conscious). Dogs live in the present moment and let go.

Control: The only thing I can control is my thinking. The only thing I can control with my dog is me. We create our relationships with our dogs (others) and self. A few things are certain: if we are born, we will live and it won't always be bliss. Others won't always understand us or what we expect. We will grow old, become ill at times, and eventually die. What we can control is how we live the journey. How we treat others is a reflection of how we treat ourselves. Watching puppies blissfully play or an old dog enjoy the same kind of bone he did at 3 months old is a lesson of harmony with the flow of life. Some people need a lot of color, others enjoy the same color they wore a long time ago. Letting go of trying to change or control others frees us to wear whatever color we like.

Creativity: I am a unique, creative being. Everyday I wake up grateful to be alive, to enjoy dogs and nature, and to know that I can co-create with them and like-minded people. Creativity can be a new puppy, an older adoptive companion dog, painting, dancing, movies, wine, chocolate or a new business venture. Paint by numbers can be your choice of expression.

Emotional responses are a choice! If someone doesn't agree or like my creativity, I can say with a smile, "thank you for the insight" and move on to create some more.

Every cell in our body is creative and re-building themselves every second by the millions. Hone into those creative cells and guide them to new possibilities. Watch a dog take his bone and bury it in the most dedicated way. Notice a dog get enjoyment out of the same old stuffy over and over again, running to and fro. Maybe all it takes is looking at something in a different way, and to play!

Criticism: Eleanor Roosevelt was a wise woman. She shared, "no-one can make you feel inferior unless you let them." Usually we are our own worse critics. Criticism from ourselves or others, if not constructive (positive feedback), comes from a place of fear, anger, resentment and lack of acceptance. Smile, close your ears, thanked them for the insight, and walk away. Listen to your inner dialogue that says, "I am a healthy, living being, perfect as I am, all is well." When you and your dog walk for 5-minutes or 3 miles, reward yourselves. Enjoy every little fiber of being that is creating change, small or large.

Mantra: I take three steps forward, two steps back but I am always one step ahead, living and learning with my dog.

Cultural Diversity: Every person and being on this planet is different. People and dogs have a Spatial Bubble. Discovering what that spatial bubble is and respecting it turns ordinary connections into relationships and lifelong experiences. I always ask myself, "what would I like or appreciate others to consider before making a comment, interrupting, or stepping into my private space?" It is as simple as clarifying. Dogs have communicative body language signals. Sometimes, they watch, wait, breathe and learn. Other times, they jump, twirl, pounce and knock us over. Which are you? Somewhere in between? Cultures, countries and nations have various beliefs, values and customs. Isn't that exciting? Enriching your life can be as simple as learning a new language | I speak dog. Respecting others can only bring more respect to ourselves.

Death and Grieving: Being at peace with death and dying is being at peace with living. Grieving a loss is a natural process that I choose to do in my own way. Vegetarians die and so do meat eaters, some before the other. Dogs die too soon and some humans live too long. People who meditate die and people who hate die. It is a normal and natural process. The goal might be how to live a full life. When one door closes, another one opens. If a door is too much wind, then look out a window until you are ready to open it. If there is an afterlife, then the life you live will create that after life. For some, death is a release to a pain free ever-lasting life. Coping with Grief (not etched in stone).

Decision Making: I make decisions well, when needed, and I reserve the right to change my mind. It is my right to take some time to be confused. When I am am confused and can't make a decision in the moment, I take a walk with my dog or sit quietly and ask for help. Oftentimes, whether it is difficult or easy decision choices (new career versus what color socks to wear), I simply let it go (see Liha-L-Ligo). Letting something go even for a few moments, while taking several deep, cleansing breaths, brings clarity. Almost always, I know what to do if my mind is clear and my body is on a healthy (or unhealthy) path. I can change.

Deserving: I am! My dogs are. I deserve to be the best I can be and live my fullest life and so does my dog. My dog has a right to play, roll in mud and dig in dirt, just like I enjoy watching a movie or drinking a glass of wine.

Dinner Time: Every part of our body has a mental pattern that is often times conditioned from child-hood. As adults, and for our dogs, we can change our mental patterns, behaviors and eating habits. Do you eat in rush? Dogs gobble, but they enjoy it. Their digestive systems are different than ours, having a strong Ph.D. Ancient wolfdom comes into play where it is eat or be eaten. We all do at times. What do you eat? Is it nutritious? Is what we feed our dogs nutritious or the cheapest food in the grocery story? We aren't lacking for information on ingredients in our or our dog’s food. Gathering information to eat healthy, whole nutrition will extend our lives and theirs. How we eat matters. Our body goes into shock when we eat too fast, too much or not enough. Balance in eating is a skill that we can develop. Being mindful of what we eat, why we eat, how we eat, and how we feed our dogs is vital for a long, healthy life.

If you feed your dog 2X a time, in a mindful way, asking for attention, sit or down, then you now have 14 training - relationship opportunities a week.

Dis-ease: Dis-ease is related to a resistance to flowing with life in some area and the inability to let-go. Dis-ease is a personal teacher. Whenever I have been ill or someone close to me has (dogs), I explore the lifestyle and surrounding energy. Dis-ease comes in many forms (mental, physical). Like all teachers, it is a stepping stone on a path of change. It stops us in our tracks forcing us to re-consider our lifestyle, relationships, careers and health. Creating a loving atmosphere around ourselves, we can be in charge of healing. Taking a deep breath, imagine a protective shield is covering you. You can choose the color and name. Nothing can permeate this shield unless you allow it too.

Divine Guidance: When I meditate, even for a few seconds, I ask, "what is it I need to know?" At some point during my day, I get an answer. I know there is a divine power much bigger then me. The universe is infinite. Energy flows through me (all beings) every minute of the day. If you listen, you will hear. If something is going wrong or you make a mistake, this is guidance. Find a place, your little space, to sit quietly, relax and connect to the intelligence and intuition within. Whatever I need to know is revealed in the perfect time / space / sequence. Is a path being offered to you? Do you see it? Before you go to sleep, ask. When you awake, remain calm. Try not to HOP out of bed for a few moments. Lie still. The answer may appear.

Dogs: I am 100% sure of this: Dogs make me a better human. They have lead me to paths, connecting me to places and people that I would never have experienced without their companionship. Dogs are over-bred, overused, and in my strong opinion one of our greatest gifts – knowing that they join us for so short a time (loss). My life is dedicated to making the world a better place for dogs. It begins with awareness, education, relationship and well-being. If we do not take care of dogs (other species) on this planet, then we do not get it ... we do not care about ourselves. Dogs are a mirror / reflection of us and our behaviors. We expect a lot from them (therapists, companions, seeing and hearing for us, guiding us). Oftentimes, they give up being dogs to serve our needs. Wolf spelled backwards is Flow. Dogs spelled backwards is ... well ... you figure it out. The sooner we get this, the better off we'll feel as people.

Doing (action): Flowing with life effortlessly is not EASY these days, but it can be. Feeling good enough does not mean having more. Usually, I have what I need. The more we do and have, the more we seem to do and need. A positive attitude through all kinds of experiences is my right. I have endless ways of creating things. The results will be whatever they turn out to be, not mistakes, but lessons for doing it better next time. Whether I choose to snooze, walk my dog, roll in mud or create a one of a kind architecture is my choice. Whatever adventure I choose, it will be what I am suppose to do. Planting a tree or a small seed in a pot is an accomplishment. Changing the world by sending positive energy or choosing to fly across the world to help out in Africa is action. Brushing my dog or going to a shelter to brush five dogs is action. They are all living beings. It is my choice, in that moment, at that time in my life.

Down: Puppies sit and lie down when they are two weeks old. We humans are not the grand creator of these behaviors. What we want is for them to do what we ask, hopefully for a good reason, because it’s necessary at that time, like sit, down, stay, stand, come, take-it, leave-it, back-up, go forward. The list of teachable’s is endless if you are willing to commit to a few moments, integrated into every day living with your dog, with patience, kindness and understanding.

Dreams: Dreams are my haven. Before going to bed I try to shut off the days events and bad programming including the news. I don't allow that to invade my peace. Dreams can teach us if we listen to their messages. Going to bed grateful is a good beginning to a sage night's sleep. The sage will present itself in many forms depending on the day or what's happening in our lives. Using positive affirmations like I am well, safe and tomorrow will be a new day helps. Dreams manifest our stress. Are you running, lost? Listen, and when you wake, don't move, breathe. If you move, you forget. Have a journal / notebook and take a few moments to jot down what you remember, good or bad. Listen to your dreams, and watch how this changes your daily life.

Drives: Genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger, but we have choices along life’s path for ourselves and our dogs. We have DNA that from generations before us, but it is diluted and we can make decisions to change it. Dogs are born with inherited breed traits / drives, but these can range from weak to strong, conditioned or not. Like children, puppies can be taught to control their drives with direction and management from us.

We share drives with our dogs like chase, prey, fight, flight, freeze, appease and faint. Humans can be in a situation of learned helplessness and so can dogs, complying in horrible situations. Being mindful of this empowers us! We can teach our dogs what to chase, when, how long and or not to at all, redirecting to a suitable alternative.

Addicted? Dogs drives may be akin to our human impulses, desires and addictions. If they do not have an outlet for their anxiety, stress and energy, then it manifests into destructive behavior.

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