Our Pets Can Show Us OUR Fears

While it is common knowledge that animals pick up on how we feel, what some people may not realize is that animals can even pick up on the un-communicated feelings that we have. They are also able to tell when our words don't match the way we truly feel (even if we don't realize it at the time).

It's why there are cases where a dog guardian is walking their dog and even though they are displaying confidence, their animal still picks up on the concern they feel about an approaching animal or person. When the dog reacts to that animal or person, the guardian's first reaction might be, "But I was talking in a happy voice and telling my dog not to be concerned, why did he react that way?" The truth is, it was because the dog was picking up on what their guardian was REALLY feeling.

It is something that Kino taught me. When he was losing his mind in fear over the sound of fireworks, no matter how many times I told him the sound couldn't hurt him and that he was safe, his fear level never diminished. He would even give me a look - a look that literally said "You are full of it mom, I don't believe a word you are saying." LOL  After years of going through this anguish with him, it finally clicked one day. *I* was afraid of the noise too. That was why he looked at me as if I was a liar. He could feel the disconnect between my words and what I was truly feeling - something that I wasn't even aware of at the time.

Over the years, I have had many experiences with my clients where their pet was picking up on feelings their guardian wasn't even aware they had, which had taught me that animals are far more adept at tapping into our deepest levels of energy, our deepest level of emotion than we probably realize . . . and it taught me that if we pay close attention, we will see how much our pets can help us. 

One client in particular owned a store and loved to bring her dog to work with her, but her dog would sometime bark and growl at the customers. Obviously, that wasn't good for business so she asked me if I could help. When I did a session with the dog, I felt the dog was tapping into a fear that the guardian held deep inside her, and that was why she reacted the way she did with certain customers. It didn't resonate with the client at the time, so I didn't push it. 

A few weeks later, the guardian called me and was very excited. She said she had just remembered something, from about twenty or more years ago . . . at that time, she was working in her mom's store, and they were robbed at gunpoint. She hadn't thought about it in decades and had forgotten it had even happened, but when the memory popped back into her mind, she realized that must have been what her dog was picking up on. 

I asked her if she held any fear that it could happen again and she wasn't sure. We decided to do an energy healing session with her and see if we could help her body let go of that old memory. During the session, she realized that she DID still hold a fear that it could happen again, in part because she still felt responsible for not being able to stop the robbers. We worked on letting go of the disappointment and shame she was holding onto so that she could feel empowered again. At the end of the session, she said she felt much lighter and more at peace with what had happened all those years ago.

Since then, her dog has happily been joining her at her store every day and no longer barks and growls at certain customers. She now believes that if her dog ever DOES bark or growl, it will be because there really is a person in the store she should be concerned about, not because of an old fear that she held deep inside her. She was grateful to her dog, for helping her see that there was something from the past that she needed to free herself of. 

It is worth considering . . . if your pet is behaving in a way that concerns you . . . they might be reacting to a feeling you have, that you aren't even being holding on a conscious level. And maybe it is one of the ways your pet has shown up in your life to assist you. Something to ponder anyway . . . 

"Every pet you have is a once-in-a-lifetime pet. It doesn't matter how many you've had. Each one changes you, heals you, owns a piece of you." Author Unknown

How Our Pets Assist Us

After all these years, I continue to be in awe of the positive impact animals can have in our lives. I have always believed animals come into our lives to help us to learn and grow but each time I witness it, I am no less astounded by it, no less humbled by it.  

In my work with animals and their guardians, I continue to see evidence that our animals know what type of assistance we need . . . and then they give us the opportunities to learn and grow in those areas. 

Sometimes the lesson comes by an animal experiencing medical issues as a way for us to learn something that will help us in our own personal growth. My dog Lucky can be single-handedly (pawedly) credited with just about everything I learned about holistic medicine, alternative healing methods, the mind/body connection, etc. She is the reason I explored all those areas - not because she was able to say "Hey mom, check these things out!" I studied all those areas of healing because I was determined to help her recover from some deep emotional wounds that were showing up as medical and behavioral issues. Given all that I learned through our journey together - eventually it morphed into a new line of work for me - as an energy healer and an animal communicator. 

I have had clients who learned to give themselves permission to take time out to be still and stop "doing" all the time . . . a notion they were able to embrace after they realized their animal wasn't healing from an injury or recovering from a surgery because their animal couldn't stay still either. 

There was another client who didn't believe in herself or have much confidence . . .  she ending up adopting a horse that had confidence issues. Through the implementation of various training methods and fun/learning activities, she managed to help him develop a lot more confidence in himself. It was after she accomplished that it was easier for her to see the ways she wasn't very confident either. Fortunately, she wasn't deterred because she already had worked with her horse on gaining confidence so the path was more clear regarding the steps she could take to empower herself more.

Sometimes, the guardian may not be very good at setting boundaries and they end up adopting a pet that pushes the limits a LOT. The animal will act like they need clear boundaries that are consistently monitored. Once the guardian has "practiced" setting and maintain boundaries with their pet and experienced positive results, it is far easier for them to set boundaries with the people in their lives.

Sometimes that opportunity arrives in what appears to be a "behavioral issue" with the animal. They are even willing to look like the "bad guy" for a while, for the sole purpose of helping us learn something or seeing something in ourselves. As an example, my own boy Kino had an issue of barking at dogs, people and anything else that moved when we were out in the car. It unnerved me to the point of not wanting to take him out in the car (which was one of his most favorite activities) because nothing I did training wise was making a difference in the behavior. Then one day it dawned on me . . . he was just showing me how I acted in the car. I didn't behave very well either.  LOL! I was easily frustrated by other drivers and could be quite vocal about my feelings (whether it was cars not using their turn signals, cars riding on my bumper or cars making unsafe lane changes in front of me that forced me to slam on my brakes, etc). I vowed that day to behave better when I was out for a drive. The great news is that once I improved MY behavior while behind the wheel, Kino's behavior improved as well and our car rides became a lot more fun. While it may have been difficult while we were going through it, in the end both of us were much happier. 

Whenever a new client calls me about a problem they are having with their animal, the first thing that comes into my mind is "I wonder how the animal is trying to help their guardian grow." Since they are often trying to help us, I always stay open to that possibility.  

I think I will always be in awe of animals - for the selfless way they set out to help us be better versions of ourselves. Do you think your animal is trying to teach you something or show you something about yourself? What is the first thing that comes to mind that you've noticed about your pet? Do you see any way they might be mirroring things that could assist you as well? 

Another Review of Lucky For Me

This past week, my book Lucky For Me was reviewed by Readersfavorite.com. I was delighted to find out that they gave it 5 out of 5 stars! 

I have shared the review below in case anyone reading my blog is still unsure if they want to read my book. Maybe this will inspire you to make a purchase.  :-)

And for those of you who HAVE read my book, if you feel compelled to write a review I would definitely welcome that! You can post your review directly onto my book's page at Amazon.com Amazon ebook or send it to Riversanctuarypublishing.com  https://riversanctuarypublishing.com/shop/lucky-for-me/ - or both! 

Since there are many people who like to read reviews before making a purchase decision, every review is helpful. I am grateful for every bit of support! 

While book sales are always welcome, for me this is more about Lucky For Me reaching the people who it can provide the most assistance to. That has been my heartfelt wish all along - for our journey to provide support to others. In the prologue I shared a bit about why I wrote the book. Here is that paragraph from the prologue: 

I know I am not the only person who has had an intense bond with their animal, nor am I the only one who has gone to extremes to help an animal recover from the abuse they suffered or heal their own trauma. My intention in sharing our journey is to light a path for those who find themselves with similar challenges. Whether you are someone who is extremely sensitive and feels things very deeply or you are trying to heal the past or you are in a process of self-discovery, my hope is that you’ll experience some “aha” moments and points of connection through this book that can assist you on your own journey, and maybe even inspire you to find your way to a deeper understanding and appreciation of all you have to offer too.

Review by Foluso Falaye for Readers' Favorite:

Maureen Burkley's Lucky For Me is the author's story about her tough but highly rewarding journey with her dog. The author's German Shepherd, Lucky, went from a traumatic experience as a puppy to being rescued by a caring human. As Maureen drew closer to Lucky, she found out about the dog's health challenges and other signs of the lingering effects of trauma. However, she also saw herself discovering similar battles as she strived to be the best human friend to her dog and attend to Lucky's needs. From hospital visits to water therapy and chaotic encounters with other dogs, Maureen's journey with her dog is captured in a very compelling tale. Get ready to meet a resilient and caring human and her playful and adorable German Shepherd in this deeply poignant memoir.

The many profound deductions in the book are quite enlightening. I found myself pausing to reflect on the author's thought-provoking observations, such as her belief that animals "come into our lives to help us reconnect with our true selves." Maureen Burkley's determination not to give up on Lucky, despite being advised to, and the dog's multiple challenges inspires you to tackle any situation life throws at you. Lucky's recovery process and struggle with trauma are depicted well alongside Maureen's challenges with her family and other personal issues. The author's experiences in difficult moments and being on edge when she took her dog outside reveal that her dog rescuer role was far from easy. This soulfully written memoir will make animal lovers feel deeply emotional and captivated from start to finish. I feel very fortunate to have read Lucky For Me.