Good to hear Fiona....

My dog was instrumental in helping me overcome my longheld feelings of low self-worth and poor self-esteem. He came into my life about 4 years ago as a gift from a family member of mine. The strong bond that we developed and shared was one which allowed me to experience both extending and being on the receiving end of unconditional love/acceptance - which was so vitally important for me because my life circumstances were such that I did not find myself experiencing this with my relationships with other people. By resonating with this feeling/emotion (energy), over time I was finally able to let go of certain judgemental & self-critical perceptions of myself which had afflicted me throughout most of my life.

So the reason I asked you about having animals/pets is because I wanted to encourage you to practice viewing/perceiving/imagining yourself through the eyes of your pets. The animals have it right - they react to you based on your actions towards them and the energy that you radiate. Their awareness is not muddied nor preoccupied with any of the superficial judgements that humans have adopted through the collective influence promoted by our misguided society. Your animals/pets do not care about your physical 'looks', your clothing/appearance, your career/job, your relationship/marital status, your material wealth, your 'past' experiences or your imagined 'future'. Their perception & awareness is 100% synced with the present moment at all times. This is the natural way of being and experiencing 'life' that most of humanity has forgotten how to connect with & experience. This is the invaluable 'lesson' that animals can teach you - if you are open to it and willing to integrate this awareness. The next time you find yourself petting and closely bonding with and appreciating your dog & cat - pay attention to how it makes you feel within, how in this state you are able to relax and quiet your mind (including the judgemental/self-critical 'chatter'), and focus on connecting with this emotion/feeling (energy) of unconditional love & acceptance that your animals extend to you and you direct back at them. Initially this feeling is going to seem temporary, and conditional (context specific), but the more you connect with and resonate with this feeling , the more you will increasingly internalize this emotional energy and learn to direct inwardly as it relates to your perception of yourself (and others).

The following are some passages from a short book of sayings about animals called Guardians Of Beings (Eckhart Tolle):

"It's so wonderful to watch an animal, because an animal has no opinion about itself. IT IS. That's why the dog is so joyful - and why the cat purrs."

"When you pet a dog or listen to a cat purring, thinking may subside for a moment and a space of stillness arises within you, a doorway into Being."

"We have forgotten what rocks, plants, and animals still know. We have forgotten how to be - to be still, to be ourselves, to be where life is: Here and Now"

"The dog is still in the natural state. And you can easily see that, because you have problems and your dog doesn't. And while your happy moments may be rare, your dog celebrates life continuously."

"You just watch the tail.... With some dogs you just look at them - just a little look is enough - and their tail goes - "Life is good! Life is good!".... And they are not telling themselves a story of why life is good. It's a direct realization."

"The dog has no self-image, good or bad, so he has no need to play roles, nor does he love himself or hate himself. He has no self! How to live free of the burden of self - what a great spiritual teaching."

"What is it that s many people find enchanting in animals? Their essence - their Being - is not covered up by the mind, as it is in most humans. And whenever you feel that essence in another, you also feel it in yourself"

"When you are present, you can sense the spirit, the one consciousness, in every creature and love it as yourself."