My Two New Teachers: Two Dogs
I've been on the spiritual path for decades. I'm always reading the latest book, attending the newest workshop, listening to the most current CDs and working with wonderfully wise mentors, therapists, light workers. As part of my journey, I've learned that you never know who your next teacher will be nor how your paths will cross. Case in point.
My two newest teachers don't talk to me, don't judge me, don't make my life choices for me, don't try to get me to accept their point of view and they love me unconditionally. They are two dogs...one male and one female...and they belong to the wonderful woman in whose home I'm currently living. I moved here about 2 months ago when my coaching practice wasn't generating the same amount of money that it had in the past and I was forced to downsize. I was distressed and felt like a failure. Little did I know that everything was in Divine Right Order. If I hadn't moved, I wouldn't have gained insights that help me to experience more joy.
My two teachers, Allie and Addy, arrived about a month before I did so they'd gotten the lay of the land and could share their insights with me. All I had to do was to quiet my mind, get my ego out of the way, and "just be" in the presence of these wise creatures. They truly know how to life a satisfying life.
Here are ten of the important life lessons I've learned from my four-legged teachers.
1. You will be provided for. One way or another you will always have food to eat. It may not be the cuisine you're prefer, but you won't go hungry. You'll always have a place to sleep. It may not be as luxuious as you want, but you'll always find a place to sleep.
2. Make your own rules. Eat when you're hungry not when the clock strikes noon. Listen to your body. It knows what it needs and when it wants. Run because you want to run, not because "exercise is good for you." Give from your heart, not because it will make you look good in somebody else's eyes or to get something in return.
3. Allow others to love you. Just be your authentic self and be open to receiving love. You don't have to do anything to earn that love. All you need do is accept it when you feel like it and, if you want more a bit more loving, just ask for it.
4. Make basic choices and don't over think the outcome. What do you want to do in the moment? What do you know is intuitively right for you? Follow your innate wisedom.
5. Be willing to change. If you don't like what you find in one spot, just change directions and explore something new. You don't have to stay with a choice if it's no longer producing enjoyable results. And you don't have to justify your choices to anybody.
6. Diversity is a good thing. Men and women are innately different; they were designed that way. We each have aspects of the other gender within us and have the abililty to access those aspects when situations require them. Men can be nurturing and women can be leaders. Our environment helps to determine which characteristics we develop and which stay dormant, waiting to be activated. How boring life would be if every tree was exactly the same size, shape, color and species.
7. Let go of the struggle. After a tug-of-war over a desired treat, don't harbor ill-will towards the victor. Know that holding a grudge or being jealous doesn't feel good. Just move on and have a new adventure without carrying any feelings from the past into the new situation.
8. Show your enthusiasm. It's so much more fun to hang out with somebody whose positive and uplifting than someone who is non-demonstrative or, even worse, negative and judgmental. Life is meant to be enjoyed.
9. Live your life, don't just read about it. Move from living in your head to your heart to be fully present in the now and to have the most fun possible from moment to moment to moment. Allow your intuition to determine the right trail for you to follow and allow your mind to read the map or use the compass so your journey will be easy. Reading about how to run is far different from actually running.
10. Don't over do. Create balance between being and doing, between leading and following, and between alone and with others. Don't burn yourself out so you're too tired to do the fun things that you enjoy.
I am a perpetual student of life and look forward to learning many more lessons from my canine teachers. I'll be happy to pass along any new insights that I learn in the hopes that they inspire you to live your most joy-filled life.
My two newest teachers don't talk to me, don't judge me, don't make my life choices for me, don't try to get me to accept their point of view and they love me unconditionally. They are two dogs...one male and one female...and they belong to the wonderful woman in whose home I'm currently living. I moved here about 2 months ago when my coaching practice wasn't generating the same amount of money that it had in the past and I was forced to downsize. I was distressed and felt like a failure. Little did I know that everything was in Divine Right Order. If I hadn't moved, I wouldn't have gained insights that help me to experience more joy.
My two teachers, Allie and Addy, arrived about a month before I did so they'd gotten the lay of the land and could share their insights with me. All I had to do was to quiet my mind, get my ego out of the way, and "just be" in the presence of these wise creatures. They truly know how to life a satisfying life.
Here are ten of the important life lessons I've learned from my four-legged teachers.
1. You will be provided for. One way or another you will always have food to eat. It may not be the cuisine you're prefer, but you won't go hungry. You'll always have a place to sleep. It may not be as luxuious as you want, but you'll always find a place to sleep.
2. Make your own rules. Eat when you're hungry not when the clock strikes noon. Listen to your body. It knows what it needs and when it wants. Run because you want to run, not because "exercise is good for you." Give from your heart, not because it will make you look good in somebody else's eyes or to get something in return.
3. Allow others to love you. Just be your authentic self and be open to receiving love. You don't have to do anything to earn that love. All you need do is accept it when you feel like it and, if you want more a bit more loving, just ask for it.
4. Make basic choices and don't over think the outcome. What do you want to do in the moment? What do you know is intuitively right for you? Follow your innate wisedom.
5. Be willing to change. If you don't like what you find in one spot, just change directions and explore something new. You don't have to stay with a choice if it's no longer producing enjoyable results. And you don't have to justify your choices to anybody.
6. Diversity is a good thing. Men and women are innately different; they were designed that way. We each have aspects of the other gender within us and have the abililty to access those aspects when situations require them. Men can be nurturing and women can be leaders. Our environment helps to determine which characteristics we develop and which stay dormant, waiting to be activated. How boring life would be if every tree was exactly the same size, shape, color and species.
7. Let go of the struggle. After a tug-of-war over a desired treat, don't harbor ill-will towards the victor. Know that holding a grudge or being jealous doesn't feel good. Just move on and have a new adventure without carrying any feelings from the past into the new situation.
8. Show your enthusiasm. It's so much more fun to hang out with somebody whose positive and uplifting than someone who is non-demonstrative or, even worse, negative and judgmental. Life is meant to be enjoyed.
9. Live your life, don't just read about it. Move from living in your head to your heart to be fully present in the now and to have the most fun possible from moment to moment to moment. Allow your intuition to determine the right trail for you to follow and allow your mind to read the map or use the compass so your journey will be easy. Reading about how to run is far different from actually running.
10. Don't over do. Create balance between being and doing, between leading and following, and between alone and with others. Don't burn yourself out so you're too tired to do the fun things that you enjoy.
I am a perpetual student of life and look forward to learning many more lessons from my canine teachers. I'll be happy to pass along any new insights that I learn in the hopes that they inspire you to live your most joy-filled life.
Posted by Joanne P. Stein at 10/21/2009 1:02 PM 
Categories: optimism,Personal Growth,happiness,LAW OF ATTRACTION,Intuition,stress management,Spirituality
Tags: empowerment life coaching divine right order Law of Attraction happiness choices success intentions intuition gratitude belief enlightenment spirituality
Categories: optimism,Personal Growth,happiness,LAW OF ATTRACTION,Intuition,stress management,Spirituality
Tags: empowerment life coaching divine right order Law of Attraction happiness choices success intentions intuition gratitude belief enlightenment spirituality
Loved this, JP! I love dogs, and I admire your wisdom, so keep the stories coming!
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To those who are willing to learn and observe, pets teach trust in so many ways. Great read, JP!
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