“Start by becoming a pack leader in your own world and healing your own world, and the effects will ripple.” – Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer
One of the daily assignments during my e-Seminar is something I call “Mental Dress Up.” This is a game that you play to bring intentions to life by embodying them in your own being.
Here’s how I describe it:
Take a few moments throughout your day and Be [Fill in the Blank].
As you’re driving you can become a published writer. What would that feel like? When you’re at a party, try being someone that everyone wants to talk to. Be wise. Be someone who has so many clients, you can hardly get through a day without turning people down. Be someone who is certain of what she wants. What does that feel like?
You don’t have to get all scrunchy-faced and try to VISUALIZE – which is a very high-pressure word. Just feel the shift in you, and BE successful. BE a fun person. BE wealthy. BE a yoga master. Whatever!
Isabella started using this technique when she decided to “be someone who loves to run with her dog in the morning.” She was amazed at the results. Typically after a few blocks of running, she’d start wheezing and feel awful. But when she became “someone who loved running with her dog,” she had more stamina and felt good during the run. She got better and better at this game until she actually began to love running with her dog.
One morning, she was returning from a run. Another dog and his owner were walking in her direction. Isabella’s dog, Bruno, is a rescue dog. He’s still healing from his past and can be aggressive with other dogs. So, Isabella started to get anxious, clinging to Bruno’s leash.
Then, she remembered Mental Dress Up. Instead of getting nervous and reacting to her dog’s bad behavior, she focused on how calm she felt and how much she loved her dog. She also played Mental Dress Up on Bruno, feeling that he was always very loving and peaceful around other dogs.
It worked. Bruno was fine. He followed her energy, and they both headed home without incident. To Isabella, this was a nice little miracle.
Isabella is a great quilter and she is beginning a new business. She has experienced a whole range of emotions from enthusiasm to fear to excitement to disappointment during the process. At one point, she met with her accountant. The accountant was skeptical, issuing warnings to Isabella about the numbers and telling her the reasons why the business wouldn’t work.
She shared both of these stories – about her dog and about her accountant – in one phone call. She wanted to know how to deal with her emotions after this discouraging meeting.
Here’s what I told her:
I said, “Your accountant is your dog.”
Huh?
People – be they mentors, accountants, lawyers, audience members, listeners, friends, or customers – follow your energy. Just like Cesar Millan has been telling dog owners for years. And just like Bruno showed Isabella in that one situation.
I told her that the success of her business would always be up to her. I told her that every business owner, artist or entrepreneur experiences bad news, good news, depression, loss, gain and insecurity. The decision to quit, fail, or keep going is always hers. Her accountant, in that moment, might have sensed her fear and found all the negative stuff he could muster up to argue against the business. He followed her energy. You don’t have to be a Jedi master to tap into someone’s emotional state of being. You just have to be human. Had Isabella been feeling confident, most likely the accountant would have presented his views in a different light.
Ultimately I said this:
“The Universe is your dog.”
Everything and everyone follows the energy and emotional state that you bring to it. Decide that you can do something, and the Universe follows that decision. Choose to radiate love and wisdom, and the Universe follows that radiance. This is not always an easy place to go. But it almost always teaches us about our own power to create or transform any situation.
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“People follow your energy” – this is a great way of putting it, Christine. Very simple, yet it encapsulates things like “You teach people how to treat you”, and goes beyond that as well.
Now that you’ve put the image into my head, though, I have to wonder… what kind of a dog is my accountant? Labrador?! Terrier?!
I really enjoyed reading what you said. I have been feeling like “what’s the point”, why do I paint why do I draw. But maybe if I put more good energy into what I am doing it will go somewhere, something good will happen.
Thank you Christine : )
Christine,
This is very true. When you smile at people they are more likely to be nice to you in return. Or as Oprah says it ‘you teach people how to treat you’.
I fully agree. It is not always easy to remember and I try to live my best life every day. Sometimes little things can stress me out enormously and I see everything around me shift with me into this stress (even my kids pick this up). So I try to breathe and focus and smile
I was about to write, “perfect timing on this post,” when I realized I’ve said that before here. So, instead, had one of those d’oh moments that of course, when one needs a certain message, the message seems suddenly to be there. When we’re ready to hear it, we notice it all around us. Thanks…again!
Thanks for these inspiring words as I get ready to depart for a selling event I’m nervous about. I’ll be the artist everyone’s been talking about and will run out of posters and postcards before the event is over! Yay!
mags – thanks! sometimes i’m not sure when i write these posts if they make any sense – so I’m glad you see the similarities in those concepts. that’s what i was going for!
tanya – when i get like that, it’s time to rent bad romantic comedies and take naps. sometimes it takes a few props to get back into delight – and then find your way to that inner strength.
thanks mimi! yes, this blooms off the idea of “you teach people how to treat you.” and it’s even more powerful.
hi tammy! glad to help. (and here’s to the perfect house!)
leslie – i’ve done this at music conferences, and it changes your entire being. it might take a little practice, but i think you’ll love the results inside of you…
…and Dog spelled backwards is?
I really learned a lot from this post Christine. Many amazing reminders, particular about other people mirroring your energy/vibe.
Very easy to forget sometimes. What do you think about this?: Sometimes I feel like it’s best to be myself with others – that is, if I’m happy, great, if I’m nervous or sad about something, I have trouble hiding it. I don’t necessary talk about it all the time, but sometimes it helps. etc.
Yet this kinda conflicts in a way with Law of Attraction stuff – or what you’re saying about others following your energetic lead.
What’s the difference between being one of those fake-smiley people and just genuinely being what you feel in the moment?
I called my dad and told him he was a dog. (He’s an accountant) After he got over his initial reaction, I read him your post and he told me how true it was.
As always, you’ve given me food for thought. Love you!
“The decision to quit, fail, or keep going is always hers.”
That speaks to me today – loud and clear. I had a big disappointment in my work life last week, and am battling to pick myself up and carry on. It’s a choice… and I get to make it
) I honestly believe that determination and resiliance are the two character traits that are commonly found in “successful” people. (Of course we all have different ideas of what success is… In this instance, I’m referring to the more traditional idea of more money, more responsibility, more enjoyment of work.) Today, I’m going to picture myself as a successful writer.
Thanks Christine! Your blog is one of the first things I read in the morning before work.
Excellent post. I find this same thing to be true with my children. The energy I put forth to them is always reflected back to me, often even more intensely. I’ve only recently “gotten” this point and it’s freaky, scary, wonderful to see it in action. So I guess this is me being the pack leader…..
By the way, one of my daughters, who has always been exceptionally anxious and can be off-the-charts hyper, absolutely LOVES your music. She will stop and listen to your CD (Right Outta Nowhere) any time it is on…she is instantly calmed. The first day…she simply sat still and listened to the entire thing TWICE. Did you ever think you would have such a profound effect on a 6 year old? Pretty cool.
cesar is a very amazing person. when we first found his show, “The Dog Whisperer”, it was on a weekend where NGC was running a marathon of the show. we watched it for hours, being impressed over and over again at the dedication and love cesar feels for the animals in his care and, perhaps even moreso, by his calm, assertive presence.
“being a pack leader” is a phrase my wife and i use with one another to regularly remind ourselves of the type of people we need to be when facing the scarier, more frustrating parts of the world.
thanks for this entry. it’s a great way to spread cesar’s message and the implications it can have for helping us all to lead a more empowered life.
…
oh christine! i love love this post! yes. exactly what i needed to hear today. thank you!
That’s a great post, and such a powerful idea. Bringing the Universe to heel! Wow!
Great post! Thanks!
I can only echo what others are saying – this was exactly what I needed today. Actually, not only was it what I needed, but I was ready to receive it! Thank you!!
Thank you for this post.
It is amazing how simple words will make a difference in a person’s life. I needed these words this past week-end when I was with my brother and sister. My choice was silence since the level of negativity outweight my own level of positive thoughts. Thank you Christine for your post. It makes my heart smile knowing that the steps I took was for good of everyone. I keep going forward because at the end there is always improvements.
thanks everyone! mark – as for the question you posed… I don’t think the answer lies at the level it comes from. You offer only two options. I completely understand the question: but I think that when you are able to be the “leader of the pack” (so to speak) it’s not about your mood or your smile. it’s deeper. the emotions that we often call “our authentic selves” are often not authentic as we like to think. so, what I wrote about here is deeper than “let your smile be your umbrella.” It’s about getting to a place (yes, it’s a process) of deeply understanding the power of your intentions and your being.
Great message, Christine. Today was the first day of summer school and I dressed in School Marm Glam – a great navy dress and red high-heeled pumps. My daugher and I were just taking pictures of each other since we were both dressed up and she kept telling me, “Mom, look confident,strong and happy!”. When I thought to myself, “look confident,strong, and happy — look diva-ish” the pictures reflected that, and when I didn’t, they were rather blah-ish. My daughter-photographer is only 10 years old! Thanks.
oooh I love it and so true !
Ok now can we have a post about our word resolutions… I’m really struggling to embody ’self care’. Or is is just about seeing myself as someone who does self care?
Christine,
I appreciate this post as I think we all have to do “mental dress up” sometimes in life. When we are able to put ourselves in the place of what we would like to happen, then we shift the focus to a happier existence. And these things that we strive for can occur, if we have the courage to not listen to the self doubt of anyone telling us (including ourselves) we can’t do something.
Wonderful post!
Sincerely,
Teresa Morrow
Christine -
I love this idea of mental dress up – I’ll be trying it out! You are so right that people follow your energy. I can think of so many opportunities where this would be a great boost. Thanks for sharing this!
Lance
Cool analogy – “The Universe is your dog”. It helps your main point sink in better than just saying “energy flows where attention goes”, You make it clear exactly who is in charge and who is walking who. When I wake up tomorrow morning, I’m going to think of the universe as a sprite little puppy dancing around my feet with joy and happiness. Hopefully it’ll make for a wonderful day. I just hope the universe doesn’t get too excited and end up peeing on my leg
Thanks for the entertaining and informative post.
Wow, I just love this idea. I’m going to try it out myself. I’ll let you know how it goes. As I am already an artist I’ll try to pretend I’m a successful one
This is great Christine.
Sounds VERY much like the practice of Ho’Opononopo. Are you familiar with that? Joe Vitale has a book on it: Zero Limits.
a powerful message.
illustrated by a true story, written as only you can, and a picture of a cute dog…not as cute as ima, however.
hi all! thanks for the notes! shama – yes, I am familiar with that book though I haven’t read it yet. I do know the concept for sure – and I love it.
m – first i would ask you to define “self-care.” Maybe you’re not clear about what it even means to you…?
this is absolutely classic, great analogy to dog ownership or as I sometimes describe dog owning me – i like to say hey who’s walk is this anywho?
To have it be parallel to universal thinking – very cool
yes must think about that a bit !
This is all so true. When I consciously make the shift from bad mood to good, or from feeling shy to feeling more out-going the whole world shifts and smiles with me.
Like J.C.Penny says (or used to say,) “It’s all inside.”
Jannie
Christine, here I am posting to your site again – I haven’t kept up with everything as of late, but suffice it to say I came back tonight to find some things on “Intention” and “creating your reality”… so here I am. The reason: an intention success story. After visiting WNC for the first time as a kid and remembering my mom’s reaction to what she thought were thunder clouds (smokies in the distance) I have felt as if I belonged there (Asheville) there is something that draws me here as I know many people have felt. So for all these years (I am 38 now)Asheville and the surrounding area has felt like “home”. Eventually moving there and settling down seemed like the journey my life would take and certainly once realized, a dream come true. This past week I was offered a position, I accepted and the Universe has delivered! I will be relocating to the Biltmore Lake area at the end of the month, found a fantastic deal on townhouse that was for sale, and can hardly wait to get there! There is so much in the area that lends to the creative needs I think we all have as human beings, or moreso spiritual beings having a human experience. I should hope to find myself hanging out at the Eagle when and if you’re playing “local” and as always I am so grateful for the sharing of your wisdom, inspiration and insight. Thank you God for manifesting into reality what has been in my heart and mind for years!
Great post. A very helpful reminder.
This sounds a lot like a song I wrote called Reality Follows (Wherever You Lead).
(‘cos every single thought is a powerful seed.)