Everything worth knowing in life I learned from animals. Animals read a situation, make a decision and move into or away from the moment. They trust their instincts - what we humans call 'feelings' - and act accordingly. They don't dwell and they never second guess themselves. Animals don't 'look back'. The only animals that need psychiatric help are under the control of humans.
Life is a series of moments. The decisions you make in the moment are your life. Boy would I like some of those back...
Sometimes we are cut off at a young age from our feelings by the pre-disposition of those around us who are themselves overwhelmed with their own problems and psychic mess. People let us down. Under such expressionistic suppression the soul runs for cover and manifests in neurotic and sociopathic dance designed purely to inform other creatures that we do not trust our own feelings, that we are vulnerable and not trustworthy. Certainly we cannot be leaders, nor among them. Those who do not trust and rely on their feelings - having been denied the opportunity to express themselves as youngsters in a supportive atmosphere - are but to suffer from the machinations of their thoughts. Working from your thoughts will lead you in circles. Working from feelings is living with purpose. Living with purpose has no destination or roadmap, you end up where you belong every day.
I found much firmer ground (arguably?) by starting to trust my feelings and act accordingly. The purposeful changes that accompany such growth can be vast and scary. In my case, I did not get there (I'm still on my way) until my animals trusted my feelings. They were the mirror I needed. Only when I stepped into the field as 'myself' did they know who I was and move toward me. The day Delilah and Cisco forgave me, I forgave myself, and set about a better life.
