I just came off a webinar from Danielle MacKinnon titled " Your animals as Gurus" and it was so fascinating! If you ever get the chance to listen to her speak, I highly recommend it. The webinar taught that ALL animals teach us something and she walked us through an exercise on how to figure out what they are specifically to teach us. I did the exercise with one of my own dogs, Gus. Gus is an old beagle we rescued almost 3 years ago. He appears to be about 10-12 years old. At first, the exercise didn't seem to really apply, but then she took a caller who said exactly what I was thinking and her response was exactly what I needed to hear! ( I love it when that happens!)
Danielle believes every animal comes to teach one of 4 possible lessons:
1. Do I feel safe, supported, and protected?
2. Am I good enough?
3. Am I loveable?
4. Am I undeserving or worthy enough?
They could be teaching all 4 things at the same time, but chances are they are working on 1 or 2.
Like I said, I didn't think the exercise really worked for Gus and I...what is he there to teach me? I rescued him, so I wasn't sure what he was teaching me...wasn't I teaching him about love and protection? ( he was a stray and appeared to be an outside dog for most of his life) He has several health issues that we can not really resolve. He has a wonky hip, his hearing isn't all that great, he had heartworm disease and treatment, he coughs a lot because of the damage done by heartworm and he is starting to have trouble getting up on the sofa, he has allergies and the list goes on. So what could he be teaching me??? Wasn't I the one doing him the favor by bringing him in and giving him a soft place to lay his head? Wasn't I protecting him from the elements and teaching him this is what LOVE looks like?
Danielle's response to the caller ( she had a similar situation ) was " How does that make you feel when you can not help someone?" The answer is NOT GOOD ENOUGH....Well, that is an age old lesson for me! I struggle with that many times...( and I KNOW I am not alone!) Just when I thought this exercise didn't really teach me something and that Gus really is here because he needed love and I was just the person to help, BAM!, the REAL lesson of his being in my life showed up.
I believe firmly everything happens as it is suppose to. I often see wisdom in Gus' eyes and his devotion and love for me are unquestionable! I didn't think the lesson would be THAT deep though!
I encourage each one of you to take a step back and look at each one of the animals that occupy your world. (Danielle said even a squirrel who crosses your path could be a guru to you) The exercise is simply to identify a "problem" you are experiencing with your pet and what emotion does it bring up. Then to use that emotion and see which one of the 4 questions that is resonates the most with. That could be the lesson your little GURU is there to teach you!
I have ALWAYS known that animals are special and amazing. I just didn't realize the depth at which they are willing to teach us the soul lessons we came here to learn. There is NO animal that occupies your life or that has occupied your life without helping you to grow. I encourage you to take some time and really think what the lesson was. And when your done, make SURE you take a moment to say THANK YOU for the job they are doing to help you to become the better version of yourself!
In gratitude,
Tracy
Danielle believes every animal comes to teach one of 4 possible lessons:
1. Do I feel safe, supported, and protected?
2. Am I good enough?
3. Am I loveable?
4. Am I undeserving or worthy enough?
They could be teaching all 4 things at the same time, but chances are they are working on 1 or 2.
Like I said, I didn't think the exercise really worked for Gus and I...what is he there to teach me? I rescued him, so I wasn't sure what he was teaching me...wasn't I teaching him about love and protection? ( he was a stray and appeared to be an outside dog for most of his life) He has several health issues that we can not really resolve. He has a wonky hip, his hearing isn't all that great, he had heartworm disease and treatment, he coughs a lot because of the damage done by heartworm and he is starting to have trouble getting up on the sofa, he has allergies and the list goes on. So what could he be teaching me??? Wasn't I the one doing him the favor by bringing him in and giving him a soft place to lay his head? Wasn't I protecting him from the elements and teaching him this is what LOVE looks like?
Danielle's response to the caller ( she had a similar situation ) was " How does that make you feel when you can not help someone?" The answer is NOT GOOD ENOUGH....Well, that is an age old lesson for me! I struggle with that many times...( and I KNOW I am not alone!) Just when I thought this exercise didn't really teach me something and that Gus really is here because he needed love and I was just the person to help, BAM!, the REAL lesson of his being in my life showed up.
I believe firmly everything happens as it is suppose to. I often see wisdom in Gus' eyes and his devotion and love for me are unquestionable! I didn't think the lesson would be THAT deep though!
I encourage each one of you to take a step back and look at each one of the animals that occupy your world. (Danielle said even a squirrel who crosses your path could be a guru to you) The exercise is simply to identify a "problem" you are experiencing with your pet and what emotion does it bring up. Then to use that emotion and see which one of the 4 questions that is resonates the most with. That could be the lesson your little GURU is there to teach you!
I have ALWAYS known that animals are special and amazing. I just didn't realize the depth at which they are willing to teach us the soul lessons we came here to learn. There is NO animal that occupies your life or that has occupied your life without helping you to grow. I encourage you to take some time and really think what the lesson was. And when your done, make SURE you take a moment to say THANK YOU for the job they are doing to help you to become the better version of yourself!
In gratitude,
Tracy
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