Mindfulness: What We Can Learn From Our Dogs
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the self-regulation of attention with an attitude of curiosity, openness, and acceptance. It suggests that the mind is fully attending to what’s happening, to what you’re doing and to space you’re moving through and the air you’re breathing. Too often, our mind can veer off taking flight, and we lose touch with our body. Then soon enough, we’re engrossed in thoughts about something that just happened or fretting and worrying about the future. Let’s break it down: “self-regulation” is a mindfulness practice that refers to how you can take control of your attention or “regulate,” your focus. Mindfulness doesn’t stop with self-regulating, but the second part of the definition is just as important. It refers to our approach of being open to whatever we place our attention on, being interested, curious and nonjudgmental. It might be something pleasant, unpleasant, or dull, and in any case, your openness, curiosity, and acceptance can be utilized.
“So, is it just yoga? What can we do?”
Mindfulness can seem abstract, and that’s normal to feel that it is a hard concept to grasp! It can be taking yoga classes as many classes focus on your breath and paying mind to your body. Some other examples would be deliberately shifting your attention to an object you see on the ground, noticing the scent of the bakery you’re in, thinking of a memory, a future goal, or conducting a body scan to check in with various parts of your body and sensations.
My dog, Pepper, absolutely loves her toys and she recently got a new squeaky green crocodile toy. The moment we gave it to her, she instantly started to figure out what to do with it. She’d leave it alone as she thought about how to tackle this new toy. After a while, I hear thrashing and squeaking. Yes! If she’s not sleeping or eating, she’s definitely trying to play with this toy (or any of them). Squeak, Squeak, Squeak. I look over at her, instinctively with slight annoyance as I sit on my couch trying to enjoy my shows, but then after seeing her happy eyes enjoying this simple act of playing with her crocodile, I couldn’t help but smile. I noticed my shift in mood and even my shift in mindset as I realized that all Pepper is doing is enjoying the moment. There are many things we can learn from all that is around us, but one of the things that Pepper constantly reminds me of is the act and practice of mindfulness.
Dogs Are Super Present
Although dogs remember things like where the treats are kept, what street takes them home, and who they’ve met before, they only access that information when they need it — at that particular moment. Whether they’re eating a bowl of kibble or squeezing a toy, dogs live entirely for the present moment. They are always aware, attentively listening and in tune with what they need and want. Our dogs don’t have some big master plan (although, perhaps that involves how to play the next game of fetch in a new and innovative way). They aren’t worried about the past, and they aren’t terrified of the future. They also know exactly when to rest and when to give it their all.
Give It A Try
Close your eyes and breathe in the fresh air. Put your phone down and fully experience where you are. Roll down your car windows. There is nothing like the wind in your face to remind you to live in the present (but also be careful of allergies!). Even with all of this, you might be thinking that mindfulness is still very abstract and that it can be difficult just sitting there with all the thoughts running by. If you would like guidance in mindfulness in efforts to combat anxiety, don’t hesitate to reach out to me as I would love to work alongside you in making this a practice you can incorporate into your everyday life!