Post #98: Pretend Your Partner is a Dog

My dog, Kiya comes to work with me. When I come out of a massage session I can’t wait to look around the corner and see her zonked out on the couch. She usually opens an eye and looks at me, making sure I’m not leaving without her. When I see her, even though I saw her right before I went into session, I have the most wonderful feeling of love for her.

Yesterday, I thought to myself, I need to feel this way toward my husband. Unfortunately, stress and responsibility and just general annoyance get in the way of that free flowing loving feeling.

So I decided to try something different. The next time I saw my husband I decided NOT to focus on the stress, responsibility, and annoyance, but shift into feeling my love toward him instead.  I let the feelings flow toward him and felt the waves of love (same ones that get sent out to Kiya) flow toward him and around him.

The response I got was pretty cool. He picked up on it immediately. And it seemed to change how the whole rest of the night went.

So I challenge you. Pick someone in your family whether it’s your partner, your parent, your sibling, or child and make a choice to extend heartfelt love to them. Push past your stress, your dramas, your traumas, your guilt, whatever causes you to hold back at times and let the love flow.

Notice the response you get, but don’t do it for any expectations. Do it because you genuinely love them and they deserve to feel that love from you. Do it because it will make you feel like a million bucks and even remind you of all the many reasons you love that person beyond the b.s. that our ego’s like to hold over their heads. (Dirty socks left on the table. Forgetting to turn the dryer on. There’s a long list but I’m letting it go. 🙂

If you read this and think, I just can’t do that. I’m too tired, too mad, too stressed, too “fill in the blank” then you probably need a major time out in your life.

Any time we choose any excuse over love then we are allowing our egos to take the wheel and that’s not a fun place to live from. 

Today, I am including a guided meditation to help you lay your burdens down so that you can make the shift and choose love over the ego. Please do yourself AND your loved ones a favor. Take some time today to make a cozy space, forget your responsibilities for a few minutes, and tune into this guided meditation. 

See if you feel differently about this exercise after you complete the meditation. 

Remember, you are a force for good in the world. The more consistent you get with these practices the more your life will become guided, sacred, and filled with meaning. You cannot help but then extend deep peace, joy, and contentment to your loved ones, friends, and everyone you meet. The world could use more of this, so let’s get you in the best space to make it happen.