Pets and mindfulness

So this week we’ve been getting used to having a new kitten in the house and in between carefully managed introductions with the established cat, and lots and lots of playing, it’s got me thinking again about the value of having pets in our lives. Specifically this time from a mindfulness perspective.

Wait, what? What have pets got to do with mindfulness? Well, what I’m really getting at is that animals live in the here and now and respond to what’s right in front of them.

That special power is something we can use as their guardians to get us out of our heads and all the thoughts and worries bouncing around in there into the present moment.

Just as we might, in a typical grounding exercise, focus on things we can see around us right now, we can use our little buddies in their entirety to keep us grounded. The examples I’m going to talk about are best suited to traditional pets like cats and dogs, but you can modify them for any pet you might choose to imagine. I was recently even encouraging a client to use their pet parrot as part of keeping them grounded (with great results, I might add!)

When they’re or napping by us or otherwise calm and relaxed, give them your full attention. Breathing calmly, with no other distractions…

• Notice your pets fur. Are there any patterns in there you haven’t spotted before? What does it feel like in your fingers? Can you feel their heartbeat through their skin?

• What do their footpads (or “toebeans” if you prefer) feel like? How do their little claws feel against your skin?

• Notice their breathing; their chest going up and down with each little breath.

• What might be going on in their head right now?

• Really focus as many of your senses as possible and notice as much detail about your pal as you can.

When you’re playing with them, try and stay in the moment with them and feel the same excitement they feel. They’re not looking ahead to the game ending or what might be happening an hour or even ten minutes from now! it’s all about right now and enjoying that moment. What can we learn from that? How can we bring some of that joy for every moment into how we approach our own life?

Pets really are a blessing and can be a great source of comfort and support. They’re perfect little tools too for keeping us in the moment and staying present.

If you would like to talk to me about issues with your mental health, you can complete the online submission form or contact me directly at: mckellarCBT@gmail.com