This week’s blog is how animals can provide comfort during times of stress, help us to live in the present and treat others how we would like to be treated ourselves. It fits well with Ali’s Blog ‘Finding Therapy in Every Day Life’

Many people may have seen the picture doing the rounds on Facebook, where apparently a young boy explains to the vet after his dog has been put down why he is not upset. “People are born so they can learn how to live a good life like loving everybody all the time and being nice, well dogs already know how to do that so they don’t have to stay as long “. Priceless!

Whether the little boy really said this or somebody else did really doesn’t matter – the point is that I think this is true and that it applies to all animals! In my experience animals really do see the best in everyone. Dogs are constantly happy and grateful, often despite what life throws at them. They are quick to forgive and even quicker to love. They don’t hold grudges and they don’t deliberately upset people to make up for how they are feeling at the time. Even if a dog is fearful of someone who treats them badly, they don’t normally let this affect other areas of their life. Even if they have just been mistreated by someone, if someone else who is kind to them takes them for a lovely walk they still enjoy it, they don’t let the past hurt spoil that moment!

Humans can have the tendency sometimes to bring their own troubles into the lives of those around them. However hard we try this can sometimes drag us down and make us feel hurt. Why do people we care about often talk or act in hurtful ways and what can we do about it? Well I think animals can help us with our stress and relationship management in the following ways:

1. Act like a dog – Be cheerful & grateful for the slightest positive thing in your life (regardless of what else has happened) and see how great you feel. Imagine you have a tail and it is wagging – I guarantee that will bring a smile to your face! As the saying goes – ‘smile and the world smiles with you!’
2. Pick up on people’s energy like a cat – Stay away from those that have a negative energy and surround yourself with those that give off a positive vibe! I won’t suggest you sit on their laps unless you want to!
3. Try to see the best in people like a horse does, despite often their most basic needs being misunderstood. In spite of their strength and power, which could easily dominate us humans, most horses are gentle, kind and willing to please. This doesn’t mean you are a pushover, but it will mean that you try and take a positive out of every situation.

Let me know if this works for you and comment below as we would love to hear from you.

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Naturally Animals