Embracing Feelings is a beautiful way to make your pet’s life, and your life, a whole lot better!

Embracing feelings – ALL of them, not just the ones that society has decided are acceptable, not just the ones that are more pleasant – is one of the most important things you can do as a human being. Feelings, emotions, are something that all conscious beings experience. They are incredibly important for wellbeing, for evolution, for growth, and for happiness.

We have all been heavily socialised to accept or deny feelings in interesting, and less than helpful ways. In our society, men are allowed to be angry, women are allowed to be sad, and we are all allowed to seek love – but it’s generally not acceptable to step outside of these highly confining boxes.

I know that my healing journey has blossomed more strongly the more willing and able i have been to embrace feelings – all of them, in a healthy and constructive way.

Healthy anger is an indication that boundaries have been transgressed. When anger is used to fuel positive actions to remedy this, the benefits are massive. This is non-violent, a creative use of the power of anger.

Healthy shame helps us understand how and when to behave in ethical ways.

Healthy jealousy helps us understand where we are lacking in self-worth.

Healthy Frustration helps us see where we are stuck, and need to grow.

Healthy Joy shows us where our life path can blossom.

Healthy love empowers us to become all of who we can be.

Of course, all of these emotions can be expressed in unhealthy ways, too, and one of the unhealthiest ways is to either wallow in them, or to suppress, deny, and avoid them.

Embracing feelings is something that has helped me beyond measure. The more I can be present with and allow feelings to flow through me, the more energy I have to create life, wellness, and evolution. And the more my pets benefit!

Most humans use immense amounts of energy to avoid, suppress, or deny feelings. They use drugs, foods, behaviours, addictions, anything, and everything to numb themselves.

And…

Most humans are also uncomfortable with their animals expressing feelings, especially anger, frustration, etc. They just want their pets to be happy all the time, and will do anything to prevent their pets form experiencing any kind of uncomfortable feelings.

Embracing feelings is easy. And uncomfortable – but in a very healthy way.

Embracing Feelings – a simple ‘how to’ guide

The way that I work at embracing feelings is to simply bring my awareness into my body, and to be with what I’m experiencing, moment to moment. I notice what feelings are here, and I appreciate them. I appreciate the comfortable. ‘desirable’ feelings. I appreciate the neutral feelings. I appreciate the enjoyable ones, too. I don;t discriminate, I welcome them all.

Some days I feel this, other days I feel that. Whatever I feel, I still live my life, I do the things that need to be done. No matter what, I care for myself. If I’m sad, that’s ok. If I’m joyful, that’s ok. However, I don’t wallow in any of them, uncomfortable or comfortable. I seek a balance where there are no extremes, but where I’m on the happy side of life, where I am always active in creating balance, harmony, and healthy actions.

With my pets, I allow them the honour of time and space to feel their feelings, too. The other day, Gem had a long walk on lead. She was quite frustrated, because she wanted to RUN. So I held space with her while she experienced frustration. later on I played with her, and held space with her joy and love. Then I gave her some WEBB relaxing touch to help her integrate all of this.

How else can you get better at  embracing feelings?

• You can spend a little time each day writing ‘I feel …’ over and over again.
• You can get some coloured pencils and scribble your feelings out onto the page.
• You can speak the feelings and sensations in your body to someone you trust.
• You can allow yourself to cry, to be angry, to rage (in a safe, non-harmful way).
• You can own how other beings (you rpets, people) make you feel. This might look like saying to yourself ‘I’m really pissed off and frustrated that my whippet ate my glasses!’
• You can give yourself time to be still, to relax, and notice what’s going on inside.
• You can journal.

All of these practices will have HUGE flow-on benefits for your pets.

And… If you’d like me to support you and your pets in this journey, you can have a Zoom session – go to www.thehealingvet.com to learn more! I help people and pets all over the world heal and grow 🙂

If you like this article, you can check out my most recent blog at this link.

And here is a link to video on this topic.