Let's Have A Chat!

Often people refer to their animal as ‘a rescue’ many years after rescuing the animal. We say “I’m gonna grab my horse out of the paddock.” Your words carry energy, and that energy affects you, the speaker, and your animal the listener. When you choose kind words and share something positive about your animal, you foster well-being and build confidence in you and your companion.

Show notes available here:https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/the-power-of-words

Episode #7 Handy Chats

:: In the last episode, we chatted about chatting with your animals. Telling them what is going on in your life right now and what is about to happen. Today’s mission is to share with you how handy and effective chats can be.

:: Why are verbal chats so effective? When you speak out loud to your animal, in simple direct sentences, your intention is laser-sharp. As you speak, you automatically form a picture of what you are saying in your mind and that helps your animal understand what you are looking for. If you are familiar with the work of Temple Grandin, she explains that animals think in pictures. In my experience that is one aspect of communicating with animals, sending them pictures, but I feel speaking out loud forms the picture automatically and therefore brings the message across in two ways, verbally and visually.

:: Let’s try it. If I say out loud right now, “Scout, please stay on the deck,” I immediately form a picture in my mind of Scout lying on the deck. Did you notice it, too? Did the picture inevitably show up in your mind?

:: For example, your pet is sick, and you are heading to the vet. Instead of turning up the radio to tune out your cat's meowing or your dog's restless backseat shuffle, you become present with a deep breath. Immediately, your pup or kitty will feel more at ease as well. Then you explain to your animal, "We are going to the vet, so s/he can help you feel better. And when we get there, I'd love for you to stay calm." Chances are, your animal will be calmer in the car and also follow your request while on the examining table.

:: In general, we tell our animals what we don't want them to do. "Stop crying, stop moving, don't jump, don't scratch, don't run, don't nip, and don't sit on the furniture." We rarely offer them information about what we want them to do.

:: Our animals might not understand every word we say, but they understand the intention behind our words and often follow suit. When you engage your pet through words, you offer a new level of communication and open yourself up for a dialogue.

:: Stories

:: We're only limited by the limitations we put on ourselves and our animals. By reducing your communication with your animals to those commands, sit, come, heel, whoa, you're short-changing yourself and your animals.

:: I invite you, give this a try. Speak directly to your animal, ask for what you need and be amazed about the results and the connection you can achieve.

Episode #6 Let's Have a Verbal Chat

:: Throughout the last episodes you re-membered to breathe, consciously, tuned into your senses, and explored ease and unease. As a child, you did all this naturally because your mind wasn’t filled with domestic concerns. You were tuned into your immediate world with body, mind, and spirit.

:: What I share with you today will remind you of something else you did so naturally as a child. ... have a chat with your animals. My mission for this episode is to get you chatting with intention And THAT will change your life with animals for-ever!

:: To start off our connection and communication with an animal we always take a deep breath.

:: Just to remind you, and if you’re listening for the first time, be informed that one conscious breath puts you into the now, so you are physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually present with your animal. And three belly breaths allow your brain to move into a calmer, more receptive mode.

:: Many of us have learned that short commands are the best way to communicate with animals ... walk, trot, can-ter, sit, come, stay, heel"... when you condition an animal to these commands, you want to control the animal's body and mind. Tell them what to do. Your goal is that they obey. And that is valuable in many situations, a.k.a. your dog runs toward the road, you call "Baxter, STOOOOOP," and he stops. Phew.

:: But ... what if your animal has a much more extensive communication repertoire? What if you can have real conversations?

:: It is tough for your anima/s to get the point across or express an opinion when you don't give them a chance to be in dialogue.

:: Having a chat with your animal, meaning a dialog, allows the animal to give you feedback and help direct where the conversation might go next.

:: I called my show Let’s have a chat because I know that your voice is an underutilized tool. And I am here to encourage you to use it.

:: Speak Out Loud

:: Stories

:: The stories show, animals, just like us, want to be seen and heard. Dogs and cats, and birds and ... horses, love to be in a dialog. And they love to share their skills and talents. And ... if we engage with them and talk to them in full sentences ... magic happens.

:: Speaking with clear intention and with your animal can prevent a lot of problems before they have a chance to take shape.

:: Ideally, you have a conversation with your animal before you make any significant changes.

:: Animals, just like us, do not like to be surprised or overwhelmed with a new situation. They prefer to wrap their mind around events as they manifest. Preparing your furry companion for the change will set everyone up for success.

:: Change is always unsettling and will have an impact on you and your animal. A few words of simple explanation can help you both move from un-ease to ease.

:: This concludes this episode and I invite you to start using your voice to communicate with your animal. Remember, short simple explanations. Tell him or her what’s going on ... and then be open and curious ... amazement is on the way!

https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/let-s-have-a-verbal-chat

Animals, just like us, crave ease. Because when at ease, the nervous system is relaxed, which means the body and mind are calm.:: When we or our animals feel our life is on the line, we instinctively go into survival mode.

:: What does survival mode look like? We contract. We pull all the energies into our core, rush adrenaline through our veins so we are ready to take flight or fight or freeze. Our mind moves frantically through the option available to get back to safety.

:: Under natural circumstances, fight, flee, freeze episodes are short. As soon as we realize the threat is over, the body takes a deep breath and the mind calms. For example, the car in front hits the brakes. Reflexively you do too. The adrenaline surge rushes through your body. Once you come to a stop an inch away from the other car’s bumper, your body takes a deep breath. Your extremities tingle as adrenalin recedes. Within moments your system relaxes.

:: Ideally, like a pendulum, the body naturally goes back and forth between arousal and relaxation.

:: In our domestic world, the nervous system is often over-aroused. We are hooked into so many stressors that the nervous system has not enough time and space to go back into a relaxed state.

:: If you feel more uneasy than at ease, if you are stuck in contraction, it is time to heed long-term physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual issues.

:: How does this tie back to your relationship with your animal? Let's go back to the quirky behavior your animal displays by tripping or cheering you up. Let’s say you carry tension in your neck and shoulders. You might be aware of it, or not. Take a little inventory right now, are you tense anywhere in your body? Are you holding your breath, pulling your shoulders to the ear lopes, clenching your teeth or your toes? I bet you are able to find some unconscious tension. Your animal is always conscious of that tension because s/he is in tune with the five areas. The people ... being one. Because there is tension in the people area your animal wants to fix it, a.k.a. Trip you up so you take a deep breath. Remember, animals, just like us, crave ease. Ease means all is well and safe.

:: When your dog trips you up – literally – as you rush to get out of the house, don't push her aside. Instead, stop in mid-stride, take a deep breath, and thank her for looking out for you.

:: And, if your kitten acts really goofy in the most unfitting moment ... take a breath and then observe yourself and the circumstance. Is your kitten alerting you to something about you - are you stressed, concerned, need some cheering up?

:: When you are physically at ease you are more willing and able to engage with your body and be present with it. And that is important because your body is your biggest sensing tool.

:: Animals are keen observers not just with their eyes, but they observe an energetic change with their entire body.

:: When our animals "speak" to us, we are given a choice: we can dismiss them as silly and goofy, or we can choose to stop... and listen.

Mares are incredibly smart, loyal, and good for you if you like a partner with ideas and suggestions. I remember someone referring to Shana, saying, “She is too smart for her own good.” To which I said, am I smart enough for her? A mare will always want to teach you something. And mares remind us every day how clever, loyal, and strong they are. A great mirror for us to look at. 🙂There is so much more about mare power in this podcast. You just have to listen!

Show notes available here:https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/mare-power