“Happiness is not a goal..It’s a byproduct of a life well-lived”

Eleanor Roosevelt

Two years ago, I adopted a “rescued” dog called Kane from Ras Al Khaimah Animal Welfare Centre (www.rakawc.com) little realizing that it was I who was getting rescued.

In my quest for happiness and purpose in life, I listen to, read and watch many motivational speakers, but much to my surprise realized that I had my best teacher at home – Kane, the latest addition to our family.

He was an expert in the field of Happiness Management and had the following five woofs of wisdom for me to follow to lead a happy and fulfilling life:

Unconditional love

“Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness”

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Kane is the living embodiment of this quote.

He doesn’t judge me, he doesn’t discriminate, he doesn’t care about what I got him or didn’t, he doesn’t hold grudges and just showers me with unconditional love the moment I return home every single day.

The world would be a better place if everybody had the ability to love unconditionally like my furever friend.

Minimalism – Find happiness in little things

“The great science to live happily is to live in the present”

Pythagoras

Whenever I traveled for holidays and left Kane in the care of this absolutely wonderful kennel called ABVC (www.abvc.ae/services/kennels-cattery/) I used to think won’t Kane be sad because I was leaving him. But I was surprised to see him jump in excitement at the thought of spending his new few days with his furry pals. I would receive photos and videos of him, sent by the thoughtful staff, of the great time he was having. At the same time, the minute I returned he would jump up to greet me and romp off home with a spring in his step.

He taught me that living in the moment and choosing to make the present your focus is the key to happiness. We need to enjoy the good that is going on in our life right now and be grateful for the same.

Unfounded fear and anxiety

“How much pain have cost us the evils which have never happened”

Thomas Jefferson

When I go with Kane for a walk, many a time his cute ears would pop up and I would sense his muscles tensing as if he is preparing against an imminent attack. When I check the surroundings I would see what has caught his keen eyes that has provoked this reaction – nothing but a white plastic garbage bag across the street. But in his mind, he is seeing this a cat that he needs to chase away. I change his energy state and calm him down with soothing words that his fear is unfounded and it is nothing but a plastic bag.

There is a German Proverb – Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is. Behind our anxious mindset and fear is always the question, what if? But the chances of the thing we’re so afraid of happening actually happening is low. So let’s not give the anxiety more energy to convert it into a fear and worse reality.

A study showed is that 97% of what we fret, worry, and fear is nothing more than an anxious mind that would have you believe an exaggerated worst-case scenario.

Instead of being anxious, we need to be mindful of what we can and cannot do. This means recognizing your abilities to cope with the irrational threat. Rather than focusing on outcomes, think about our strengths and recognize that we can handle whatever life throws at us.

Power of Energy

Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get into that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy, this is physics.”

Albert Einsten

Kane explained to me the complex working of universal law of energy in his characteristic simple way – if you want me to be calm and happy on my walk, you better be in the same state yourself as I have a direct connection to your energy level which flows through my leash.

I learnt a very important lesson of how “where attention goes, energy flows”. According to the Law of Attraction, we will attract into our life–whether wanted or unwanted–whatever we give our energy, focus, and attention to. We are constantly giving off vibrations of energy when we think and feel. Our thoughts become words, words manifest as action, action becomes habit, habit shape our character and character becomes our destiny.

Got to take Kane for his walk now…. just to sum up,