6 things my dog taught me about Life
My dog has no issues speaking up for herself, she inspires me to do better.
When you start seeing everything as a learning opportunity, your world shifts.
You start to find meaning in the little things more.
You appreciate more.
You become more open-minded.
Because there is nothing more dangerous than living a life close-minded.
Once you step out of your default rigid mindset…
You no longer dwell in the victim mindset.
You stop asking “Why me?”.
Instead, you ask “What is this trying to teach me?”.
Sure, of course it’s hard to do in the moment. I'm referring to the moments after the emotions have passed.
That is the path to your evolution and enlightenment.
Wake up. Question your choices, your thoughts, your outlook on life.
Because the danger lies in not questioning.
The worst thing that can happen is losing yourself to “Should’s”.
On my recent trip to Hunter Valley for my birthday weekend, I realized I learnt a few things from my dog, Mochi.
So here it goes, 6 lessons I learnt from her.
#1 She has no issues speaking up for herself when she feels uncomfortable.
She will growl and show her teeth (as a warning and to scare them off) when other dogs push her boundaries and invade her personal space.
She is not bothered by other people’s feelings or judgement.
That is her way of using her voice to set boundaries to protect herself.
It made me think, if she can do, so can I and so can YOU.
#2 Her dedication and unconditional love taught me that no matter what happens, I still have her and that the world isn’t so dark with her by my side everyday.
The best thing about dogs is their unconditional love towards you. They love you no matter what.
Seeing her at the end of the day at the door. Seeing her every-time you walk through the door. Every negative emotion melts away.
It has made me appreciate her presence so much more. It made me grateful to have her.
It is an honor and a privilege to be loved and have love.
So cherish what you have, who you have. Because that is what makes life worth living.
#3 Take intentional time to be present with your loved ones, cherish the moments.
Nothing makes my dog happier than me giving her my upmost attention during moments of play.
Instead of mindlessly scrolling on your phone, put it away and enjoy the little moments with your loved ones.
#4 Theres nothing wrong with being slow to warm up.
My dog is cautious by nature and takes time to warm up to new things. But it doesn’t mean she is not open to new experiences. A reminder for us to take things on our own pace. We are all on our own timeline. We all have different comfort levels.
If you are not comfortable, if you are not ready, if you don’t want to… You Dont Have To Go Through With It.
Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
You can choose.
You always have the power to decide.
#5 She sees the world in a different perspective, she lies upside down.
Something I came across recently - inversion thinking.
A crucial and valuable asset to have in your mental toolbox to navigate through life’s challenges.
It is the act of thinking of the opposite thing, think backwards.
For example, focusing on why people fail is more insightful than focusing why people succeed. It gives you information to what not to do so you can do better in the future.
In James Clear’s article, he mentioned inversion feels counterintuitive, but there is great value in thinking about the opposite of what you want.
Try implementing inversion thinking the next time you come across a problem.
#6 Just because you have fears doesn’t mean you can’t overcome them.
My dog is a scaredy cat, she is scared of everything.
But despite that fear, she has the courage to face her fears.
Her bravery is something I admire about her. Even when she is scared, she is still able to walk through the fear, towards me.
Which begs the question, if she can’t do it, why can’t I? Why can’t you?
What is stopping you?
What barriers are in the way?
Are they self-imposed?
Are they factual?
Or is it just a feeling?
How does it hold you back in your personal, work and social life?
What would be different if you confronted your “fears”?
What is the cost of you doing nothing in 2-5 years?
Some questions for you to ponder on this week.
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The importance of uncovering the roots of your problems, identifying your “default patterns” & becoming aware of your triggers can not be underestimated.
It will change your life.
When you know what triggers you, you start to take control of your emotions and how you respond as opposed to having your emotions control you.
To wrap up this week:
Speak up for yourself, even if your voice shakes, even if its uncomfortable.
Appreciate those in your life who love you unconditionally, because it is an honour to be loved and to love.
Take intentional time to be truly present with your loved ones and cherish the little moments.
There is nothing wrong with being slow to warm up, we are all on our own pace, we are all on our own timeline.
See the world in a different perspective, try inversion thinking, think forwards and backwards.
Just because you are afraid of something, doesn’t mean you can’t overcome them. Lean into them and understand where they come from and why it holds you back. There is great value from doing so.
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That is it for this Newsletter.
Thank you for being here on this journey with me.
See you next week.
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