Don’t you feel better?
The ever wise Storm. Photo by Kayleigh of Raw Photography
“Now don’t you feel better?” I know his energy, whether there are words or not.
Being chastised by your horse is always a dose of humble pie. It’s been a long day, and I’m finally working through some things that have been weighing on me for a very long time. As I am settling in to sleep running my energy as I always do, Storm’s energy comes in. “Now don’t you feel better?”
Our animals know whenever we have something ‘going on.’ It doesn’t matter what it is, but they are very aware when something weighs on us, is eating at us, or in general just ain’t right. There’s nothing that we can hide from them.
The challenge is that sometimes they don’t understand what exactly it is, and often they don’t know how to support us in that moment, so they do the best they can with whatever information they have. And that can result in behavioral issues that add just One. More. Thing. to our already overloaded plate.
The dog will chew on things, bark excessively, or snap at you/another dog.
The cat starts peeing outside the litter box.
The horse is uncatchable and spooks at everything when you finally do catch them.
It’s the last thing you want to deal with in your already over taxed and frazzled life. Pets are supposed to be respite and comfort, not more stress.
The solution to this is to simply explain to your pet what’s going on. Confide in them, and just share whatever it is that’s creating the stress for you. Sit down and have a chat with them, snuggle them (in whatever form that looks like if they allow it) or do whatever it is that helps you relax, and just have a chat. Write a letter in your journal to them, talk it out, whatever feels the best.
Just share with them, from your heart, what’s going on in your life.
The stress of your job
Financial worries
Relationship struggles
Family strife
Fears about your car situation
Struggles with your kids…
Whatever it is, all of it, share it with your pet.
Once you’ve got that out there, your pet can better understand the situation, and how you need support. The problem comes when we are burying our struggles deep, they feel the stuck energy, but it doesn’t make sense to them without context. And that’s where the behavior issues come from.
So the next time you catch yourself worrying, yet again, about that thing that’s weighing on you, go have a conversation with your pet. Who knows, you might even discover a creative solution while sharing your heart with them.
Now don’t you feel better?
