How important is it to have an “even temper” in all aspects of life? It is critical to keeping consistent on our positive habits. Listen in here for some tips on this subject
Handling the very high moments:
When it is time to eat, Daniel races around the house at lightning speed showing how happy he is for this moment. Immediately after eating he comes back to earth and moderates his mood. This is an effective way to handle our high moments as well. Often, when we have a high moment such as saving a dog or even a personal event, we tend to try and stay on that high. This usually results in a crash of sorts, and is not the best thing for our emotions.
This is especially the case when we have a low hit us right after a high. We know how common this is in the world of rescue. It can be compared to the pressure change in a plane. When the plane drops a little too rapidly, we feel how it can impact us. The steady decent is much better for us, especially our ears!
Instead we need to strive for the Daniel method of handling a high. Enjoy the moment, or two, and then bring yourself back to a middle of the road place.
Noble Strength actions:
- Identify a high that you have the pleasure of experiencing in the next day
- Immediately grab on to your emotions and don’t let them get too high
- Imagine Daniel flying a plane, and bring yourself down to a place of peace in a deliberate manner.
Consistency comes down to evaluating daily habits and making the good practices part of your routine no matter where you are or how you feel.
I admit that is a mouth full, so let’s take our time in this blog to break that down.
First, evaluate your daily habits. You may not even recognize that you do the same things every day. As I started writing this blog, I realized a daily habit. Every morning when I wake up I take my vitamins and drink a large glass of water before I do anything else. It is obviously a good habit so I want to be consistent with it. That being said, what we all need to do is walk through a typical day and see what we are doing on a daily basis.
Now onward to make the positive habits consistent. I look at my dogs early in the morning. They eat with gusto and then immediately line up at the door to go outside. They head out there with great enthusiasm…..well, they do when the weather is good! That now becomes our charge. Pick up your enthusiasm in your internal feeling for all positive habits.
We saved the best for last! On days when you are not feeling 100%, it is imperative to continue on with your good habits. The best example of this is a gym visit. It is so easy to say you do not feel up to it, and then you lose your consistency as well as your motivation.
Here we go with action items for some Noble Strength:
- Identify two daily habits that are very good
- Instill some happy thoughts into your mind while you are doing these daily habits
- On a day you are not 100%, press on, and then reward yourself with a small treat
Yes, the glass can be full, not only half full.
In the book, “The Secret”, a primary lesson is that you receive what you attract through your thoughts. This concept has been used in many motivational talks. I am in agreement with it, as I have seen it work, and not work, in my own life.
What I will do is add my passion which is how animals can inspire us.
In many talks, I have explained that I believe Daniel’s incredible positive attitude helped him survive the gas chamber. What is even more amazing is his consistency in carrying this 100% positive attitude into every day. He has been part of our family since 2011 and I have observed him diligently. Now I need to follow him! Of course, Daniel is not the only one who has this trait, just don’t tell him!
However, more animals carry this ball than humans. What is also important to note are the ripple effects. Like a stone dropped into the middle of a pond, ripples go out far and wide. Then when it reaches the shore the ripple comes back a little showing this is a reciprocal action. When you give out positive intentions, they come back to you. This is a spiritual gift to the world and should be noticed and appreciated more often.
Please share the animals you know who can add to this needed spiritual value. My thought is to put these stories on the news.
I learned the secret to inner strength during years of martial arts training, but I have learned even more from animals.
Consistency in actions is the most important component to living with purpose. Listen in to see how to be more consistent in your daily actions.
When two people enter into any relationship, each one will look for attention and/or affection from the other especially if they sense they are offering more than they are receiving. Animals inspire us to drop this mindset and to give without expectation of receiving.
This really is love at the highest level, and can open roads to more peace in our life. Isn’t it the expectation that gives us stress? And isn’t it true that in most cases giving without the expectation provides more in return?
The first place we must start is with ourselves. We must give ourselves love and self-care without counting a cost or expectations beyond realistic.
When I look at my Shelby, I see someone who leads the way in this important spiritual quality.
She will always give without expectations and she also takes care of herself. Just check out the time she allows herself on her lounge chair.
In 1812 France, a dog was brought out on a rowboat by his owner to the middle of the lake. The dog was thrown overboard in an attempt to end his life. He kept swimming back to the boat trying to get back in. Each time the man shoved him back into the water until the man eventually lost his balance and fell in. The dog rescued the man and they both got back to the boat safely.
This is truly the most extreme example of forgiveness, and the dog could be deemed a PhD expert.
We can all use a little instruction on this all important, but arguably most difficult, attribute of spirituality.
Most major religions speak of the need for forgiveness, but I am not sure if any of them have determined that the best examples are animals. Yes, the ones treated the worst (overall) are those that can inspire us the most. This should be no surprise since those “leaders” of many religions were also harshly treated and offered encouragement on forgiveness. (Jesus is an example.)
There are two important qualities animals have that make them so good at forgiveness. First is living in the now and second is no ego.
Let’s examine each in our next blog post.
In the meantime, examine your initial thoughts.
Living in the now is a common topic, and it is very important in processing issues where we need forgiveness. However, it is just as important to “do the work” of the past and give some consideration to the future. An animal can inspire us to live in the now and can offer some help in processing the past. But the truth is we, as humans and more complex, must do more work.
Coming to terms with things in the past is important, or your “now” is not as peaceful and the forgiveness journey is harder. For the future, sometime should be split positively looking at a future that contains forgiveness of the past.
Ego is another common topic, and here animals can really lend assistance. Often times we get caught up in “how dare them for doing that to me”. The quicker we can drop this attitude, as animals do, the quicker we can move forward on the forgiveness journey.
Stop for a minute and always consider that it is not personal and often it is more about the other person than it is about you.
Grief is like a maze, you take many twists and turns and sometimes you hit a dead-end. Listen in to find out how to be more successful
Being creative is one of those “you have it or not” talents, or is it? True, not all of us can paint a picture or get a top grade in art class. However, the deeper sense of being creative lies in how we view all creation. After all the two words start out the same.
As the artist takes pride in painting a picture, we must take the same pride in how we respect all creation. We need to get creative in this endeavor and look for ways to see the pains and points of view of the other individual.
The skill in opening your mind to what they might be going through makes you not only a creative artist but deepens your spiritual perspective.
I am open to say that I am really working on this creative aspect of my spiritual life. However, the times I have had a creative boom, I feel more peaceful myself.
