I participated in a course this week on the Israeli self-defense system, Krav Maga. The instructor mentioned a book that I used to recommend to my trauma clients, The Gift Of Fear, by Gavin de Becker. What perked my ears was the reminder of the importance of trusting our instincts and how often we over-ride those internal signals. Sometimes this is because we are trying to be polite and we don't want to offend another person or it may be that we are so focused on the task at hand that we do not want to change course.
I am a huge proponent for recognizing the intelligence of animals but there is an area that can be, well, more complex. And that area is fear. Assisting an animal out of fear mode can be a challenge. There are many tools that can be used to help an animal, especially if we have some knowledge of an animal's triggers. For instance, I have a rather sensitive dog. I know that with some upcoming travel that I will be doing, Cheyenne is going to require a little TLC while I am away. Although I am leaving her in the hands of familiar people who are going to take very good care of her, I will need to spend some time making sure she has certain things in place to support her while I am away. That will include using essential oils and providing other comforts that I know have helped her with stress in the past.
I would love to tell you that I am always in tune with my animals 100 percent of the time but that is not the case. If I get too busy I may not be in the right "space" to be open to hearing what my animals are telling me. Of course, I make it a practice to be in that ideal space as much as possible but I do not always succeed. Yesterday, I noticed that I was, in a loving but firm way, just "telling" my dog that she did not need to be afraid of noises that she was hearing outside. Today I walked my dog past a women who was repeatedly telling her very small Shih-Tzu dog to "stop barking, bad dog," to avail. In both of these situations, this women and I were completely ignoring the dogs' feelings of fear.
Anyone who's binge-watched a season of any dog training show can tell you that over-empathizing with and coddling a dog who is in a state of fear may make the situation worse. However, I would like to propose that there is a middle ground. Animals have their own instincts that alert them to danger. Similar to us humans telling ourselves that we should ignore certain fear signals, we may be expecting a lot from our animals in this regard. I have found that taking a moment to ground myself, feel what the animal is feeling for a moment, acknowledge to the animal what I have heard them tell me about what is frightening them, letting them know it will be best that they do what I say and only then go into behavior-directive mode. For instance, sending them to go to their crate where they always feel more safe and secure. I have found that taking that moment provides respect that allows for an opening for an animal to listen to what we are telling them do. i.e. "I've heard you, now please hear me. I do know what is best for you." This brief exchange serves to build trust in our relationships with our animals and carries over into all aspects of our relationships with them.
"But I don't communicate with animals." So you may be thinking, "this is all well and good for a professional animal communicator, but how do I know my animal is hearing me?" I can tell you that by first taking a moment to become centered and grounded, your animals will be much more likely to clearly understand the information that yoiu intend to communicate. They are hearing you all of the time so why not take a moment to make your thoughts specific to the issue at hand? It is also a matter of energy. By stopping to center yourself in an animals presence, even if you aren't feeling confident that they understand, you are speaking their language of energy and they will share in that energetic experience of centeredness.
Although it may not fix everything that your animal is experiencing, trusting in your connection with your animal family members, and the power that you have to affect them with thoughts and energy, is vitally important to supporting them when they are in a state of fear.
Deepen your connection with your animal family member - take advantage of Spring course savings and animal communication session discounts!
Featured Essential Oil Of The Week - Lavender!
Lavender is one of my favorite essential oils to use for both myself and my animals during times of stress!
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) has a scent that’s a wonderful blend of fresh, floral, clean, and calm. It’s this dynamic aroma that has made the flower a classic for perfumes, soaps, fresheners, and beauty products. As one of our most popular products, Lavender oil is a great beginner oil and a must for every home.Lavender is one of my favorite essential oils to use for both myself and my animals during times of stress!
Lavender essential oil isn’t just a favorite because of its classic scent—it’s also highly versatile. From skin care products to relaxing routines, this oil can infuse many areas of your life.
Young Living Essential Oils Member ID 1035550