Trust Yourself Always

Many years ago, I traveled to Utah from Washington DC to go on a hiking and camping adventure with a good friend of mine.

We went backcountry camping and had all the accoutrements needed for a successful trip.

We set up camp, found some water (that was another story and it derailed the rest of the trip for my friend) and discussed the next day’s hike.

We shared dreams about our futures and what we wanted to bring more into our lives. We envisioned big and we were unwavering about our future. Pure excitement and joy.

The next day, ready to experience the wonders of the mountains, we followed our map to our designated hike through a canyon.

We winded our way through the narrow slots, sucked in our breath to squeeze through tight fitting rock walls and took in the beauty of nature that created this place.

We were feeling the awe of all that nature offers.

After one last turn through the desert floor, the canyon dumped us out into an open valley and the trail was no more. Only a Jeep trail existed.

Either our map was wrong or we missed a turn somewhere along the way. Whatever the case, we already hiked several miles, the afternoon light was waning and we were like huh?!

Now, the choice of where to go next rested in us.

For others, this would be a frightening experience. In the middle of a huge valley, having no idea of where the trailhead is to get us back to our base camp and no one else around.

My friend was doubtful and expressed her fear about being lost in the middle of a giant national park.

Me, on the other hand, I had faith. I wholeheartedly believed and said out loud to my friend, someone is going to drive down this path, we just have to get going.

I trusted my intuition that we will be ok and someone will come along and I fully surrendered.

This deep knowing drowned out any overwhelming sense of fear my friend was experiencing, but I didn’t take on.

Some time later, an electric blue Jeep pulled up and the driver asked us if we needed a lift.

We climbed into the back seat behind the guy’s mother and his wife while my friend and I shared the story about what happened.

He dropped us off at the trailhead and told us we had about another 5 miles to hike to get back to our camp. We jetted off and landed back at our tent before nightfall.

This moment seared into my brain how important it is to let go of the chatter that clouds your inner wisdom and let go of resisting of what is happening right here and now.

When other’s doubt or question you, you don’t have to take on other’s limiting beliefs.

When you do take on other people’s fear, you will be led down the path where you lose your way.

Allow your ideas to unfold regardless of what others say. This will lead you in the right direction.

The slot canyon we hiked through
Our campsite in Canyonlands National Park

My Journey into Dog Training and Coaching

I’m being interviewed on the Do No Harm Dog Training FB page on Monday at 10am PST!

I’ll be sharing about how I got my start in the dog training industry and why Do No Harm training and approaches are important to me!

Stop by and ask your questions!

Not on Facebook? No problem! You can still catch the interview here

Wanting Something Different for Yourself? Go For It!

Malfurion and Maverick walking with each other after weeks of desensitization and counterconditioning training!

If change of any kind was easy, everyone would do it!

Sondra and I worked together over the last several months on a variety of concerns ranging from separation anxiety and aggression.

Malfurion and Maverick (from right to left) had a serious fight between the two resulting in injury and emotional distress not only between them but Sondra was scared too.

Sondra felt the edges of her comfort zone frequently. She embodied how she wanted to feel, she took action in spite of the limiting beliefs (and friends and family) telling her it can’t be done and she’s accomplishing what she set out to do.

Coaching your clients is not just about addressing the behavior concerns their dogs are experiencing or displaying, it is setting up your clients with support so they can feel empowered and recognize their own capabilities. In doing so, your clients can not only deepen the relationship with their dogs, but also find themselves along the way!

For Sondra and I, we worked together virtually too!

“I’ve learned a lot about myself over the last months— I think it’s even been a whole year almost— of me handling and training my dog(s) behavioral problems. I would say the biggest thing I learned is even with my personal issues, I CAN do it. I AM capable. And mindset is sooo important in all of this. I’ve always struggled personally with feelings of being a failure and a burden etc. I’ve struggled with mental illness, and still struggle everyday as I have bipolar type 1. I’ve had to give up on a lot of dreams and wants and wishes because of this, and to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel where I might not have to give up my dogs just makes me feel like I can succeed at something despite the worlds’ stigma thinking otherwise. Which means.. maybe I can succeed at other things I was told not to bother trying with. One less failure can turn into more successes if I apply this to other things in my life. I’ve also been doing this journey almost 100% on my own as my husband is not really involved with training or daily care/activities with the dogs. I learned I had become really dependent on him and others around me for things, and doing such an overwhelming and seemingly impossible task on my own with the proper support really showed me that I can do this. I can do it on my own. I’m capable. I’m able. I still fight the dooms day mentality, and have my bad days where nothing goes right and I fear the worst, but before where it would ruin me and my dogs progress, I now know my mindset when training my dogs and my fears can really REALLY impact their progression and outcome of the whole situation. This has helped me deal with not only my dogs, but mg marriage, my other intra-personal relationships, my work in the process of starting our own business, and me as a person. I’m not anywhere near where I want to be, but I am so much further than where I started. I need to celebrate the small wins.. no matter how insignificant they seem to others or even myself because a win is a win.” Sondra H.

Curious how you can support your clients in a deeper and more meaningful way?

Set up your Uniting Call with me and let’s chat.

Learn More!