3 WAYS ANIMALS HELP US BE BETTER

Hello and Happy New Year! I was cocooning after the holidays. Just couldn't seem to get back to structuring my day. Until I signed up for on-line harmonica lessons, that is. They promised I could go from beginner to Boss. While I may never jam with a band, I can still have fun! The important thing is that the harmonica got my creative juices flowing. Energy started flowing and I started getting things done. My thoughts turned to the 3 ways that animals help us to be better. Better people you say? Animals are our partners. Isn't it weird how you select a particular dog or horse from a brief encounter. Your intuition kicks in and says, "This one." Make no mistake, they pick us. In every human-animal relationship there are challenges (positive and negative) along the way. These challenges are how the animal sets up your lesson. The challenge or behavior won't go away until you change, not the animal (sorry to give you this news)! That's the way your lesson works. They are working behind the scenes to make your life easier--if you are willing to listen. Here are the three ways that animals reveal the lesson for us: Mirroring This occurs when the animal is mirroring your emotions. A person can feel anxious and have an anxious cat that mirrors the same emotion that they feel in you. A horse may lack confidence, because their rider lacks confidence, too. Trust is another issue. If a person doesn't trust themselves, the dog (or horse) can show uncertainty or fear. Pay attention and notice if your animal is copying how you react. Animals can help us see ourselves, so we can make changes for the better. Modeling

his one is more complicated. This occurs when the animal is behaving the opposite of their human companion. The anxious person has the laziest, most chill cat. The man who lacks confidence has a dog so confident that it borders on aggressive. Some animals take this to the extreme to create change. They may develop an illness, so that their busy human will slow down and spend more time with them. This not only results in the human slowing down, but frequently creates a deeper bond with the animal, too. During an animal communication reading, I ask what Soul Lesson that the

animal is working on with their human. When I ask the next question, "What can your human do to work with you on this lesson?" I have heard more than once, "Watch me! Learn from me!"

Inspiring Animals are about evolving and unconditional love! Here is where animals shine. They don't have the same busy brains that humans have. They live in the present and know alot about playing. We can be inspired not only by our companion animals, but animals in the news, cat videos on YouTube or acrobatic squirrels in the park as some examples. Caution: You may feel a euphoric feeling of love and joy!!! Lean into this feeling and carry it with you.

My sun conure, Jukey, thinks life is a party. He is curious and happy everyday. If I am feeling down or scattered, I take a couple of deep breaths before I approach him. He deserves my undivided attention, so we can work on our lesson together. I appreciate how he invites me to be joyful. Sometimes he gets me to dance along to his favorite songs! He is truly my greatest teacher! I hope learning about the 3 ways animals help us will invite you to observe all the animals in the orbit of your life. They have so many ways of stopping our busy brains from working overtime. They make us be present with them and ourselves. Animals are our partners and teachers. They rarely get the credit they deserve for helping us be better.

Want to know the Soul Lesson that you and your pet are working on together? Book a session with me! www.sharellbenson.com/services

#loveanimals #lovedogs #cats #lovecats #horses #talktohorses #lovehorses #talktoanimals #animalcommunication #dogs

5 WAYS YOUR ANIMAL SHOWS LOVE

As an animal communicator, the animals I connect with all have different experiences. Sometimes they are not socialized in the first weeks after birth. These animals may not want to be touched, but have other ways to show their love. I have met horses that look grumpy, but want to be "loved on" (their words, not mine) despite how they appear. Look for the unique love language your animal displays and know that you can always make your connection deeper.

Here are 5 ways that your animal shows love:

1. Looks into your eyes.

This is the big one. Humans tell me that they feel a connection with their animal(s) when they hold their gaze for a few seconds. In readings, many animals tell me that this is the behavior they use to connect with their human on the soul level.

2. Follows you around.

This is also demonstrating a connection with you. They are tuned into you and want to know what you are going to do next. If they are close to you; they are looking for you to notice their presence and respond with a few words or a touch. Or a treat!

3. Do things that make you laugh.

Animals frequently describe themselves as funny. Their human sometimes says, "Really?" After some thought, they remember antics their animal does to get a laugh and make them feel better. Animals do things to get us to live in the present moment. (If only we could remember this on our own).

4. Shows affection in their own language

Giving you "the look," hanging around you, asking for attention, rubbing up against you, touching you with their nose, paw or beak. Notice how they show affection in their own way. Depending on the species, it can be subtle. Love from my parrot is different than love from my cat.

5. Knows how to best challenge you.

This is the best way they bond with you. I always the love the animals that challenge me. The bad boys! Does this sound familiar? Animals are here to help us learn. The challenges they present to us make us pay attention and help to change our thinking. My cat, Fia, and I are both very independent. (This is called mirroring. More on this in another post). It is apparent, we are together to learn about the value of compromise. She was determined to go outdoors and I insisted on a leash. After many go rounds, we struck a compromise. She now goes outdoors unsupervised. When it is time for her to come back indoors and I am acting rushed or worried, she won't appear until I am chill. What an amazing cat! She makes me manage my own energy! This simple compromise with her has enriched both of our lives. She goes outdoors, I spend more time in the garden to be with her and we are enjoying a happy compromise while working on our soul lesson together.

Wondering what Soul Lesson that you and your animal are working on together? www.sharellbenson.com/copy-2-of-services. Book a 25 minute reading with me to learn more.

#animalcommunication #lovehorses #lovecats #lovedogs #loveanimals #howmyanimalshowslove #love4birds #soullessonwithanimals #love4cats #love4dogs

Tell Your Horse, "I've Got Your Back!!!"

Be the Leader

Horses have our back. There are countless stories of how they heal the human heart…everyday. But, how do we show horses and other animals that we have their back? That we are there for them? I am an animal communicator and animals tell me how much they love it when their human is present to them--connecting and playing with them. They love us, but sometimes they don't respect us!!! Does that sound crazy? Read on!

Horses defer to humans when they step up to the leadership role. The world can be spooky for them, after all, they are prey animals and a lion may leap out of the ditch at any moment! (I had a horse that learned to trust that ditches were safe). Think about the fact that their eyes are on the side of their head. They can't see anything coming from the front. Our role is to be neutral and observe anything that could spook them based on your experience with them and help them overcome their fear. Become the calm leader they want to trust (even if you need to take a few deep breaths to calm yourself). The act of stepping up on their behalf, and not forcing action, makes them trust that you are looking out for them.

I watched two excellent trainers at the MN Horse Expo in May demonstrate how to show leadership. One used “distractions” in the audience, citing a man in a shiny wheelchair on the aisle. The other created “distractions” by shaking a garbage bag that the horse was afraid of initially. One trainer yelled “STOP” at the distraction. The act of yelling reminded me of a lead stallion stamping the ground and taking charge. The trainer with the garbage bag was neutral, but persistent in demonstrating that the rustling sound and the bag itself were nothing to be afraid of. The best advice offered was, when your horse presents its rump to you, simply put your hand on it, and say, “I've got your back.” The energy of the arena collectively sighed into the possibility of it. It was apparent that we all could use that reassurance.

Show Them and Tell Them

The Soul Lessons that I deliver as part of my animal communication readings reveal what your animal is working on with you. I hear lessons such as: “Speak up,” “Be confident,” “Take time to play,” just to name a few. These phrases come directly from the animal. They are asking their human companion to be a leader in their own life! I think we should lean into these lessons by being our best self around all animals. Respect them. Comfort them. Explain about the garbage bag they hate. Shout at the mailbox with the red flag. You will know what to do.

Go ahead, tell them; say it out loud,

"I've got your back!!!"

Interested in learning the Soul Lesson your animal is working on with you? Book a reading with me!

www.sharellbenson.com/services