CHARLIE PHILLIPS - LIFE COACH

The Value of Persistance

2008-08-20T14:39:00.001-07:00

Humans quit pretty fast. I see it all the time. They say they want something, but instead of persisting they give up if they don't get a fast payoff for their efforts.

We dogs learn as puppies that if you want something, if you really WANT something, then you need to persist!

All the time we're digging under the back fence, through dirt as hard as steel, day after day, we're imaginging how cool it will be to be running around in the backyard next door with the cute puppy who lives there. We hold the picture in our mind of what we want, and we get so excited and worked up about that picture that we can just dig and dig and dig, even if someone keeps filling in our hole!

Learning: The trick is, to give yourself enough TIME to be persistent, and to hold the picture of what you want in your mind until you're really excited about it, as though you're already there! Humans call that the Law of Vibration and the Law of Attraction in action. We dogs just know that that's the way things work around here!
Love your persistance - Charlie xx

Learning to say NO!

2008-08-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes my human Dad says 'NO!' If he says no, he means no. And often he doesn't give an explanation. The bit in Blue below is the only bit I hear, and it's the only bit I need to know.

NO - I can't get off the back of the truck! (There are snakes in the grass and Dad is worried I'll get bitten but I just want to run around)

NO - SIT (I want to cross the road but a car is coming)

NO - STAY (It's dangerous in the cattleyards and I don't want you to frighten the calves)

As my best friend it is very important that my Dad can say NO for my own good, even if I don't like it. You can't be a true friend if you say yes all the time.

Sometimes I want to play and Dad says NO. He doesn't want to play right now. That's okay. I can come back and ask again later and maybe he'll say YES.

Why is it that so many humans find it hard to say NO, and always feel that if they do, they should explain themselves? Sometimes humans say YES when they mean NO, and you can see on their faces and in their body language that they're worried about what other people will think if they say NO. There are humans who will take advantage of other humans who can't say NO. Even dogs will. I know there are some people that I can keep pestering and eventually they will give me a pat, or a piece of their dinner, just to make me go away. If they'd said NO firmly and meant it, I would have just left them alone. Isn't that better than spending your whole life doing what you don't want to do?

Learning: Remember, it's OK to say NO. Ask any two year old human. They love using the word NO because they understand the power of it. Not good at it? Then stand in front of the mirror and repeat after me. No. NO. No! Nooooooo. Nup. NO!
Woof! Now you've got it. I'm proud of you - so go use this new skill. It will make life much easier.

Seeing something wonderful in every day!

2008-08-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

Dogs mostly live in the moment, which means we pay attention to RIGHT NOW! Humans often live in their heads, paying attention to yesterday, or last year, or some distant day in the future.

What's worse is that when humans use their gift of imagination to REMEMBER the past or think about the future, they often work with worries, fears and unhappiness. Ouch! That must really hurt your heads, and I know over time that sort of thinking hurts your heart as well.

Thinking positively and reframing the way you think so that you spend more time being aware of what's going on around you (or inside you) can be difficult if you haven't done it before.

Luckily I'm a life coach, so here's my big advice for today. Don't try and change the way you think overnight. Instead just take some tiny nibbles out of today, and you'll find that it tastes delicious. Now to do this you need to understand that TODAY and RIGHT NOW are happening all around you, not just in your head! So, look around and notice what makes you smile, or feel better, or even laugh out loud. The delight is in the detail.

My List Of Something Wonderfuls so far Today:

It' sunny - hooray!
Breakfast was delicious
There is an interesting bug on that tree that I can't quite reach but he smells great! (Stinkbug!)
You can eat a dandelion head and it's all fluffy in your mouth. When you cough the bits all fly away out of your mouth. Amazing. Let's do that one a few more times because it's so much fun

Mum's list of Something Wonderfuls so far Today:

It's sunny - hooray
I can't stop laughing watching Charlie and Bert sniffing in rature at that stinkbug
My jonquils are flowering - beautiful!
A fairy wren is dancing in front of my window
This apricot jam on toast is divine
This cup of tea is just what I need Mmmmmm........
I love it when my husband hugs me!

Learning: Focus on small things that brighten your day. They are everywhere. Just look around. But to do that, get out of your head first. There's a lot to be grateful for right now, and the more you find that makes you feel happy and grateful, the more you'll find. Trust me - it's true.

Have a groovey, happy blowing-dandelions-making-wishes kind of day, Love Charlie xx

Resisting temptation actually can feel GOOD!

2008-08-04T19:32:00.000-07:00

Want to get better results in every area of your life NOW? Well as your personal Life Coach I'm going to show you how, for free, with just one simple piece of advice you can apply to any situation...

Dogs know a lot about immediate gratification. If it's there and we want it, then we usually just go for it. And sometimes that's a good thing.

BUT sometimes resisting temptation can actually feel good. And even more importantly, it can bring you those results you want! My younger brother Bert is a slow learner. To be fair, he's still just a puppy! Sometimes he can resist immediate gratification, but often it wins out. And that has bigger consequences in his life.

Down here on the farm, if Mum and Dad go out, they know they can leave me with access to the house, and leave food on the bench and it will still be here when they get back. So I get certain priviledges because they TRUST me, and my actions have earned that trust. I often get a tasty reward for being able to NOT eat that defrosting roast, or the freshly baked cake that is cooling on the rack while they are gone.

Bert is another story. They know if they leave the house open and tasty treats around, then Bert will avail himself of them, even if he waits for a while trying to be good before he finally caves in. They don't TRUST him yet, so they have to put him on a chain, or lock him out of the house.

If Bert DOES eat something that he stole off the bench he eats it and it tastes good. But pretty soon he starts to feel bad. And by the time Mum and Dad get home he is worried and slinky down low with flat ears and sad eyes. He doesn't feel good anymore and he wishes he could reverse time and resist that temptation. Then he usually gets in trouble and has to go outside and suffer the consequences of sneaking food.

Learning: Are you attempting to lose weight, wanting to exercise, needing to get an assignment done or a task that you don't enjoy? Or is it something even more important than that, where you can't even get started? What is tempting you right now? I bet it's something that would derail TRUST in yourself, or TRUST from others. Even though you might want to succumb to the temptation of not exercising, or eating chocolate, or procrastinating, I can guarantee that if you can resist temptation, your outcomes will be a whole lot brighter, and you'll FEEL WAY BETTER THAN IF YOU'D GIVEN IN AND DONE THE THING YOU NEEDED TO RESIST. And the secret to all of this is that the more you can resist those temptations, the stronger you become, the easier it gets, and the happier you feel. Go try it - you'll see that I'm right!
Keep Smiling,
Charlie xx
xx

Sunday Roasts and Other Slow Foods!

2008-08-03T00:12:00.001-07:00

There is dinner roasting in the camp oven right now. My Mum is an excellent camp cook! There's something in her cooking pots for everyone, including me and Bert. I am so excited I am doing doggy circles of happiness around the paddocks chasing my tail. I always get some of the Sunday family roast. It's a great tradition.

Sunday is a happy day. It's a day for resting and walking and playing outside and contemplating life. It's a family day. When we're out in the fields like this at our farm you can feel very connected with nature. Everyone feels it, they just don't always know what it is they are feeling. But dogs do!

And what I like about Sunday is how it feels. Relaxed. Different to other days. A good time to share a meal, and each other's company. A day to find some peace for ourselves and some connection with the ones we love.

We dogs can do this any day but humans often don't even make one day a week to slow down and remember who they are, and where they are from. That's why roasts are good. It's slow food. It takes time to prepare and time to cook and then you have space for thinking.

Learning: Sundays are beautiful days, if you let them be. They can fill you up with gratitude. And gratitude raises your vibration - which is always a good thing. Everyone needs a day of rest. It's good for the soul, and good for all the souls you'll meet next week who'll be glad you got some time out to rest and replenish. Enjoy your Sunday. I'm doing the happiness dance to send out bright sparks of love to all of you. I wish you a place at our table. Shut your eyes and you'll be there. Surrounded by big family love, slow food and a warm welcome.

Lots of Love from Charlie xx

Taking Advantage of Opportunities!

2008-08-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

We dogs have a great way of making decisions.

Does it work for us?
Will it feel/taste good?
Is it calling our name?
Will we feel fear or pain?

Let me run you through them. They might work for you.

Does it work for us? I usually ask myself a few quick questions or do a couple of speedy image visualisations of me having/doing the thing here. EG: Will I be more comfortable on the lounge? Can I get outside to lie in the sun right now? Is it better playing with Bert's stick AND my ball while Bert has none? (Bert is the little new dog - I have to show him who is boss - therefore all of these actions that assert my superiority are noble!) Will I get caught - or should I just worry about the consequences later.

Will it feel/taste good? Once again my imagination is at work (and often my mouth is salivating already) What will it feel like lying in the sun? What do those biscuits left lying on the coffee table taste like? What will it be like if Dad gives me a big pat and love-up if I interrupt him while he's at the computer?

Is it calling our name? When the Universe is guiding you it can speak in a whisper, a song, or even a shout. I can here that food packet rustling in the kitchen from upstairs here in the office! Did someone pick up the car keys? Humans, pay attention! Opportunities are everywhere.

Will I feel fear or pain? If it's only a little bit of pain or fear I can work with that. Sometimes, through experience I KNOW that the pain outweighs the pleasure. It's just not worth the pain if I eat the family's defrosting meat off the sideboard, especially if it's the Christmas Roast... Pain can be a great teacher! And dogs are not great fans of fear. Give us a comfy couch any day.

BUT pain can easily be overridden by love. Fear can be overridden by trust, love and rewards. If I'm scared and my human Dad is with me and he encourages me, then I'll keep going. If I'm learning something hard or a bit scarey (like when I first started climbing stairs) then praise, food and big pats teamed with an encouraging voice will get me there. If someone threatens my family, my home or even my brother Bert I forget the fear or possible pain, because I'm here to protect what I love.

Learning: There are opportunities everywhere! Visualising what you want helps you know if you really do want it. And listen to the Universe. It really is guiding you. It's good to be decisive or you might loose the opportunity - IE if I don't get on the couch pretty quick Bert will! Pain and Fear need to be understood because most times you can work through them, and the rewards will be worth it.

Approaching Humans - A Dog's perspective on saying hello and making friends

2008-07-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

Everyone needs friends. Everyone wants to be loved. And we dogs have learned how to approach humans by watching, feeling for the vibes that a person is emitting, approaching carefully and beaming joy, love and acceptance.

Ah - that's the bit humans forget. The bit about beaming joy, love and acceptance. You see, as a dog, I don't want or need anything from you. I just want to say hi. I just want you to know I see you. That you're not invisible to me. That you matter. That I'd like to give you a hug, or play with you, or maybe just hang out quietly in your space.

I approach you with love, as if you already are my friend. As if you already are someone I love. Than I just match my energy with your energy, and I beam out all the good feelings inside me so they flood you with tenderness and love and joy.

When we are connecting eye to eye, soul to soul - THEN we can start some really useful dialogue. But until we do that, it's all about the approach. About putting you in my focus and making YOU the most important thing in my moment. Sometimes we need to do that until the other person can feel lifted up enough to even be able to look us in the eye or reach out. It might take a while. But dogs are patient.

Learning: In communication, most humans think its about the message, but we dogs know that if you can't see us or connect with us our message means nothing. SO it's all about the approach. Make the other person the focus of your energy, thoughts and love. Be patient and observant, and don't expect too much. There's always time for the right words later. And sometimes words aren't needed - because love, acceptance and understanding is enough. So there you go. The basics of 'Dog Communication with Humans 101 Introductory Course'. Thanks for participating!

Listening For Emotion - Reading the Unspoken Vibes!

2008-07-26T04:13:00.001-07:00

Humans emit emotional signals like radio stations emit songs. When you tune in to someone by paying careful attention with your heart, by watching and listening and carefully observing you can almost SEE the emotions being given off as energetic signals.

Then you can match your approach and communication with their emotional state. Sometimes you can even figure out how to give them what they need to enhance or improve their emotional state.

Humans and animals can get into very primal states - emotions that are common to all of us. These include fear, panic, grief, curiosity, anger, excitement, love, fatigue, hunger, relaxation, happiness and loneliness. When we reach out to each other and show that we can recognise the emotion the other person/animal is experiencing, it provides great comfort and reassurance. Everyone wants to be heard and understood, even when they are not sure themselves what they are trying to say or do. We all want to belong, and we all want to feel loved.

In this next video humans help animals by listening for emotions. They might look a bit silly, but just like dogs, they are willing to get down on their friend's level and really tune in to those primal emotional signals:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=tc7bdx7EBIU

Learning: Humans radiate emotion, through their body language, facial expressions, the way they dress and their tone of voice. We can tune into this emotional vibration ,and by understanding it we can build a bridge between us, no matter if we are different species. Love is the universal language!

Listening for Sounds - Decoding the human voice!

2008-07-24T15:38:00.000-07:00

Hi, Charlie Phillips Life Coach here again. Today I want to talk more about how dogs understand people when we don't share a common language. Actually, you might not be able to speak woof, but we can both communicate effectively through the tone of our voice. Let me simplify this one, by getting you to think about talking to dogs or small children. You may want to say the following things out loud!

There is a tone (the sound of your voice rather than the words you use) when:

You are praising someone - 'Good Boy Charlie!'
Encouraging someone - 'Come On, Charlie, You can do it.'
Angry - 'Charlie! Did you do this?!' (you didn't really want that mobile phone...)
Scolding - "Bad Boy Charlie!'
Comforting - 'It's okay, Charlie Boy'
Teaching someone - 'Let's do it like this, Charlie'
Excited - 'Yay Charlie, Yipee!'
Scared - 'Charlie - is that you?'
Lonely - 'Charlie - please give me a hug'
Whiney - 'Why do you keep doing that Charlie?'
Happy - 'You're a good friend, Charlie'
Loving - 'I love you Charlie!' (that's my favourite one)

You can also listen to how loud the voice is. Is it normal, strong, hesitant, shouting, quivering, a whisper?

Learning: Humans often forget what a powerful tool their voice can be. Listen to the tone of voice of other people, and begin paying attention to your own tone of voice. It will help make your communication a lot clearer. If you're not sure how to do this, read books out loud to little children and put lots of expression into your voice. That's what tone is. Expression and emotion, and it's often more true than the words coming out at the same time!

What the shape of your mouth tells me!

2008-07-16T16:47:00.000-07:00

Human mouths are much more flexible than dog mouths, and they say a lot more, both verbally and non-verbally. Here are some points to look for when preparing for communication with a human. Sometimes it's a mouth-eye combo! Is the mouth:

thin lipped and pressed together tight?
pressed together and with a jutting chin?
smiling? can you see teeth in the smile or is it small with just lips?
turned down at the corners?
turned up at one corner?
in repose?
gnawing at the lips, or teeth snaggling the lips?
open for talking? (intelligent eyes, far away eyes, purposeful eyes, disinterested eyes)
open for singing? (happy, purposeful or relaxed eyes)
open for shouting? (wide, mean or cranky or slitty eyes)
howling? (look for wet eyes with this one)
trembling?
sneering? (can you see teeth?)
grimacing? (eyes might be squinty here if pain is bad)
pale or blueish?
painted a pretty colour?
healthy or sore like sunburn or run-down immune system?

Does the mouth settle or become softer or smiley when you approach?

Learning: You can tell a lot of important stuff about what a person is thinking and feeling, just by looking at how they hold their mouth.

It's all about the Eyes!

2008-07-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

Some wise human said that eyes are the window of the soul. We dogs have known that for years. One of the best ways to communicate is with your eyes.

Step One: Watch the eyes of the person you are studying. Are they shiny or dull? Do they have life? Stillness? An emotion you can name?

Step Two: What do these eyes focus on? Something here, or something far away, perhaps invisible to other eyes?

Step Three: Can you catch these eyes with your own, and have the person look at you? If you can, be non-threatening. That builds trust. Make your own eyes soft, with a hint of smiling. Soft eyes are always best. You do this by putting love and care behind them. Then it shines through. You don't need to share the same spoken language. Love is a universal language.

Learning: You can learn a lot by looking into the eyes of someone. You don't need words for this at all. In fact, words usually get in the way. Love, openness and awareness help this process immensely.

The Quiet Observer

2008-07-13T13:54:00.001-07:00

When you want to commune with someone you can learn a lot by observing. This is called understanding non-verbal communication. It's what dogs are expert at. You do this bit with your eyes open and your mouth shut - this bit is very important! As a dog, this is what we look for:

Body position - is the person slumped, or making themselves small, or standing normally? Are they looking bigger and more threatening than normal?
Facial position - is the person looking down, so you can't get eye contact, staring at something intently, looking around actively, or just looking out in a relaxed way?
Facial expression - are they smiley, soft faced, wrinkled-up worried faced, angry faced, lost-looking, vacant, or aggressive?
Are they making any noises? - Humming, singing, crying, whimpering, sighing, talking, yelling? How loud is it and what is it doing to their face and eyes?
Do they have anything in their hands?
Are they making actions, moving, fidgeting or performing any sort of activity?
What is their vibe? We talked about this in the last post. What is the energy this person is emitting? What is their own personal song that their body and mind are making and broadcasting to the world?

Lastly, we sit and put this all together as a clear picture in our minds. That's how we observe.

Learning: The best way to observe people is with your eyes open and your mouth shut. Be aware, and notice the small details. Put the focus on them, not you!

Sniffing for Vibes - The Law of Vibration

2008-07-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

Today I'm going to teach you how to be a sniffer dog. It involves using all your senses, not just your nose!

Humans interact differently to dogs. I watch you often as you communicate with each other. Humans are usually mostly 'me' focused. They worry about how they look, how they smell, what they are going to say, even if there is parsley stuck in their teeth. So they go into communication thinking about themselves, even when they want to talk with someone else.

Thoughts are things, and whatever you're thinking about, and whatever you're feeling becomes a vibration of energy that you emit like music from a radio. It's your own personal song, and dogs tune into that. We work out what song you're playing first, so we know the best way to approach you,especially if we haven't met before or don't know each other very well. We do that by watching, observing, and feeling you. We open our awareness, our hearts and our minds. And we sniff out your song. Sometimes the song you emit doesn't match the sounds and words from your mouth. So we pick up on that too.

Humans often have a default song that they don't even realise they're playing. Soft or loud, we dogs carefully sniff out those vibes so we can understand more of what you're feeling and what's going on inside you. We sometimes get to know you better than you know yourselves!

If you approach communication like we do, with openness and curiosity, we think you'll get the hang of sniffing out the vibes of other people pretty easily. It will also make you more aware of your own vibrations. Then you'll be able to intentionally chose the good ones!!!

Here is a human that explains vibrations a bit better:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=clmQC6ct2Uw&feature=related

Learning: Humans emit vibrations, and dogs use these vibrations to understand and get to know more about humans when we communicate. We sniff out a person's vibration by communing with them. We observe them, listen to them, and open our hearts to feel them. A person's vibrations never lie. And the best communication always starts with the Truth! You can practice sniffing out vibrations by going somewhere where you can just sit and watch people, like at a cafe, or from a park bench.

And I have one more question for you? What sort of song are you playing? Is it the best music for you? Lots of love, Charlie xx

Sniffing for Vibes - A Free 7 Day Introductory Coaching Course in Communication

2008-07-10T13:48:00.000-07:00

After a lovely post from Hamish (see comments on"Sometimes we don't need words") I've decided to explain a bit more about how dogs communicate with and know so much about humans. A lot of this you really CAN learn to to do by yourselves, even as a non-dog. I'm going to break this up into a few topics over the next few months, and break each topic down in to chewable but meaty chunks. Any good coach lets his students know in advance what their learning program will be all about!

Today I'll outline our work, and tomorrow we'll begin. If you leave me a comment at the end of any day's posting I'll be sure to answer you!

Day 1 - Sniffing for Vibes. The Law Of Vibration - Humans emit vibration based on what they're thinking and feeling. They can't help it, it's the Law! Learn how to sniff for those Vibes.

Day 2 - The Quiet Observer. Broad guidelines for understanding how a person feels, no matter what noise is coming out of their mouth.

Day 3 - Watching the Face - It's all about Eyes today.

Day 4 - Watching the Face - Today it's the Mouth.

Day 5 - Listening for Sounds - As the noise tumbles out of a human mouth, today we concentrate on how that voice SOUNDS. It helps us understand pack order, and a human's view of their own position in the hierarchy.

Day 6 - Listening for Emotion - Emotions have sounds we can hear. They pop out of humans whether they are aware of it or not!

Day 7 - Approaching Humans This is the introduction for the Advanced Level 7 day course we'll start soon. Humans can be fragile, defensive or threatening, as well as open, loving and fun. We need to learn how to approach them safely in any situation.

Get ready for some sound dog wisdom as we work on our non-verbal communing skills. Yep - it starts with a little hippy vibe. Commune first, then communicate. See you tomorrow, your Life Coach, Charlie xx lick lick

Learning: The best communication starts with observation and communing. Humans, keep your mouths shut a little longer. Be aware of your surroundings, your human and the context. A little observation makes a big difference in obtaining successful communication outcomes.

The Benefits of Sunshine

2008-07-10T03:29:00.000-07:00

How long since you've sat in the sunshine? We dogs try to get some sun whenever we can. It's relaxing, it feels good on our skin, and it's healthy. It keeps our vitamin D levels high, helps our skin and immune systems, and wards off depression. Sunshine energises you and helps you feel happy, motivated and alive!

Dogs aren't stupid about sunbathing. You never see a dog lie out in the midday sun on a hot summer's day. No! We take in some morning or afternoon rays. We may sit for ten or twenty minutes, and then we're done. It's a luxurious pleasure, and a great way to meditate. If you're feeling gloomy, sad or tired, try sitting somewhere quietly in the sunshine for ten minutes, so that sunshine can reach your skin. Shut your eyes and feel the warmth of the sun entering and filling your whole body. Feel it softly energise you. Enjoy the healing it brings. Then open your eyes and look around at how the sun makes everything look brighter and clearer.

Kind of makes you want to run around, you'll feel so good.

Learning: Sunshine is good for your health, and it's a potent anti-cancer tool too. But be sensible with your exposure to the sun. Just watch dogs - they know how to handle the sun. Want to feel good? Get some sunshine every day!

Sometimes we don't need words!

2008-07-09T03:06:00.000-07:00

Our friends at the farm up the road are hosting some Solomon Islanders who have travelled to Australia for World Youth Day. Most of them were having a fun time, laughing and joking and talking with their host family. One of islanders was a young girl who was feeling very lonely. I watched her for a long time. She was quiet and shy and very homesick. You could tell by the way she sat, not joining in, looking down, sad eyes. Everyone else thought she was tired, or maybe ill. I knew that wasn't true. She just needed love and reassurance.

I went and sat near her. Then I got a bit closer, and a bit closer. Finally I was sitting right beside her, so that we were touching. I put my head in her lap and wagged my tail. Then I licked her hand and smiled at her. She put her hand down and patted me, and together we made friends, without having to say any words to each other. Soon she didn't feel so lonely. We could think about each other and have an understanding of each other's emotions. We could establish a non-verbal connection. A connection just based on feelings and touch. Now with a friend at her side the young girl was brave enough look around the room. She could venture a smile at someone, or offer an answer to one of their questions. I stayed near her so she felt safe, and by the time I left to come home she was talking and laughing with the others and I knew she would be alright. Sometimes we don't need words - we just need to be kind and patient and aware, and to radiate love into the world. To be a friend who doesn't speak or judge but who is supportive and who listens with their heart. That's one of the gifts we dogs can share with you - but it's also one you can learn to do for yourselves.

Learning: To be a friend you need to open your heart. Patience has its own rewards, and sometimes words just get in the way. One of the greatest gifts we can give others is just to be present and to listen, and to care. Much can be said in silence.

Weather as our teacher!

2008-07-07T14:06:00.000-07:00

I've got friends staying right now on our farm, and today we've woken up to heavy rain. Weather is a great teacher. It helps you know the best way to behave on any given day.

No gardening today - maybe we'll go for coffee instead!

My brother Bert and I ran out early to check the fences and burn off a bit of energy. It was so good to come back home and get towelled off so we could sit in front of the fire.

Rain can make you change your plans. Rain is a good time for playing in the mud, splashing in puddles or listening to the sound of rain on the roof. It's very relaxing, and sometimes even exciting. It is a great time for retreating inside, for relaxing, cooking, writing or reading. It's weather for being indoors.

If you're like us dogs, why not put on some boots and a raincoat and go for a splashy wet walk in nature? Rain makes everything clean and fresh, and you'll work up a good appetite for something tasty. Weather connects you to the world, and that helps you be more connected to yourself. Trust me - it's true!

Are you even aware of what the weather is doing today? Are you thinking about it and letting it affect your actions? Weather helps us go with the flow. It's a great teacher. Check out how this lovely man enjoys the rain!

Learning: Be aware of the weather - its a great teacher. How can you best enjoy the day? How can you be connected to the weather? How does it make you feel inside?

Clearing out!

2008-07-07T00:50:00.000-07:00

I supervised my humans today while they did some gardening. It's a really old farm we live on, and it's a bit run down, but it's good good bones underneath. So we weeded a big old circular garden under a sprawling old jacaranda tree. My mum had put it off for the longest time because it seemed like such a big job. It was a real mess, but with some good friends co-operating and working together, talking and laughing, all the weeds and crazy tufts of grass were finally pulled out.

And what a treasure trove we found underneath the mess. Hundreds of bulbs, most of them sprouting and some blue bearded irises already in flower. Nature's wonders planted so long ago, that now get to see the light of day and share their beauty again.

So I wonder, what treasures might have been planted in you long ago, that just need to be exposed to some light? Piano lessons when you were ten, a love of sport, a language learned at school and forgotten, a great recipe your nana taught you?

Or do you have some area in your life that needs a tidy up and make-over? What treasures might you find in an old journal, or the back of the cupboard, or on top of the wardrobe?

Sometimes the neatest surprises are right under our noses. And if the job seems too big, remember you can always ask for help!

Learning: A little bit of tidying up, digging around or exploring can uncover all sorts of wonderful surprises. And the help of friends is invaluable.

My Adopted Brother Bert

2008-07-05T14:02:00.000-07:00

Now that you're beginning to know a bit about me, I'd like you to meet another member of my family. Bert! Bert's a late addition to our family. My human mum found him adandoned in a cardboard box at our local shopping centre carpark in summer, 2007. He was maybe a month old. I didn't like him at first. He smelled bad, and he was very pesty. He was also very nearly dead. The vet thought he wouldn't live because of neglect, starvation and dehydration. But with a bit of food and water, and a few hugs he seemed to just magically come to life. He wanted to follow me everywhere, and I went from being a dog with lots of personal space to having to share my living space with a juvenile delinquent.

Bert was the dog equivalent of trailer trash. He'd had no parenting, no routine, and no manners. He was a brat! At least he smelt better after they washed the encrustation of filth off him, but he just had no idea how to behave. And he clung to me like moss to a rock.

Now I understand that sometimes annoying people or dogs cling to you and follow you around because they are insecure, and you are the one who looks like they know the rules. It's a survival thing. So I've been slowly teaching Bert dog etiquette, and Bert's teaching me how to be young again. It's a good trade! Bert feels safe and loved, and he knows his place in the family now, so he's happy, and behaving so much better.

Learning: Sometimes people or dogs behave badly because they haven't been shown anything better. Sometimes people or dogs follow us around and annoy us because they are desparate for recognition, they are insecure and afraid and just want to hang out so they can LEARN from us. Learning is always a two way street. You teach something - you'll always learn something in return. Cool stuff huh?

Going Nuts! It's sometimes good...

2008-07-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

Charlie Phillips here - giving you some free life coaching.
Let me ask you a few questions.

Are you conservative by nature?
Are you governed by a strict routine?
Are you responsible?
Maybe even a little over-responsible?
Are you scheduled down to the last minute of your day?
Are you really anxious about something? (or everything?)
Are you (gulp) a control freak?

This is what dogs know... Being stitched up tight all the time is not good for you. Sometimes you really do need to just have a bit of wild crazy fun. But what's stopping you? The only thing that stops dogs occasionally breaking out is being literally chained up on a short leash, or massive fear. Hmm. Sounds like some humans I know. Stuck, stuck, stuck.

But cutting loose gets everything flowing. I call it going nuts! When I get like this my humans call me The Nutsilator! Giving in to that feeling and going a bit crazy helps the Universe move us out of stuckness, and it FEELS great! Sometimes I cut loose by running around the house jumping on and off all the furniture. Sometimes I just start howling and dancing around to the radio. Ocassionally I just ambush my owners, jump all over them and tell them how much, how really really much I love them. No special reason. It just feels good.

Then when I'm done I feel relaxed, joyful and I can't stop smiling. That small episode of craziness has often inspired me to do some of my best connecting, thinking, dreaming or problem solving. Or at least I've slept well!

So, how can you go a little nuts? Can you jump around the lounge room? Go out with friends and sing karaoke or dance like a wild thing? Walk down the street smiling and saying hello to EVERYONE? Crank up the car stereo and belt out a song or two with the windows down?

Let me know what works for you. And I'm always here if you need to ask me a question. Just post a comment, or email my secretary Miss Whimsey misswhimsey@gmail.com The dog knows. We'll get you sorted! Have fun. Charlie xx

Learning: When we have to massively control everything, or we are frightened of breaking free or trying something different, it shows that we don't trust the Universe enough to take care of us. And often we don't feel worthy enough or lovable enough for the Universe to even notice, let alone allow good things to happen in our lives. RELAX. You are well loved. Think good thoughts and trust. Life is not meant to be hard all the time. Wonder is right here. Just open your eyes!

Travel - there's a whole world out there!

2008-07-03T16:07:00.000-07:00

Dogs get bored. So do people. Staring at the same four walls, or the same four fences gets tiresome. It's just not good for our health. One of the reasons we were designed with legs is so that we can rome around. Getting out of the house, and even further abroad by getting our of our street, our neighbourhood, our city, state or even country is an adventure that will expand us in so many ways.

I love being tied in the back of our ute (pickup for your foreign folks!)with the breeze in my hair, driving out into the unknown, even if's its just the other side of town.

Short trips are great for the soul. Just try going somewhere different, or go back to somewhere you haven't been for a while. When we're in town we love to roam through Chinatown, go to the markets, or old parts of the city with interesting architecture. Its also fun catching ferries and chugging around on the river.

Out in the bush we take endless walks through the countryside, or explore quaint lttle villages and festivals. We visit friends, and even go camping. There are lots of dog friendly camping and holiday places around. You just need to look.

My favourite travel is the type you have to plan for and look forward to. Where you might have to save some pocket money, pack a bag, and go a long way from home. Adventure travel, walking travel, exploring travel, travel on buses and motorbikes, surfing travel, history travel. It's all good. And the food... One of the best thing about travel is making new friends, learning things and eating new FOOD. I highly recommend it. Take your humans, if you're a dog like me. If you're a human then get out your diary and make a date with yourself. Its so much to look forward to!

LESSON: We need to have breaks - they restore the soul, and give us much needed creative, cultural and social input. They also help us burn off energy and satisfy our curiosity so that we are more settled when we come back home to our normal routine. And did I mention the food...

Face the Day - Stretching for Joy!

2008-07-02T14:17:00.000-07:00

I'm awake. It's always a good day when you wake up! When I wake up in the morning the first thing I like to do is stretch. I have my own version we call doggy-lates. Like Pilates, or Yoga, but for dogs!

Stretching is luxurious, but its also free and it really makes you feel good. I start out by stretching just where I lay. No need to get up yet, especially if the morning is a little nippy. So I roll over and lie on my side, and I push my front legs and back legs out as far as they go, and arch my body wide. I breath in deeply as I do this and I can feel everything get tight. Now comes the good bit...

I exhale and relax and draw everything back into the middle so I'm in my normal dog-on-his-side position. Wow - that feels amazing so I may even do it twice. Then I roll over and lie on my back. All four legs go straight up to the ceiling and I arch again and sort of wriggle. Then I let my legs flop and maybe wave them around a bit. Lastly I rub my spine hard up and down the floor while I'm laying on my back. I bound up and then I do the dog stretch. A bit of deep breathing, a big shake, a smile and I'm ready to face the day!!! Sometimes I throw in a crazy dog dance too, just out of sheer happiness. Or I head out on a walk to enjoy the freshness of the day. Joy just sneaks up on you like that.

I found a good stretching demonstration here for you humans. It's named after us! The Dog Stretch. I liked this man - he seems to really understand where we canines are coming from!

Starting the day with stretching doesn't just limber you up, it gets everything flowing and it even expands your mind. See, we dogs know these things! Go try it for yourself.

Learning: Stretching is a great way to start the day! You can start off in bed with some gentle stretches and then when you get up, keep going and really limber up to face the day. Moving is AMAZING, and remember to BREATHE and SMILE!! Why not dance a little too?!!

Sleep - you really need it!

2008-07-01T13:47:00.000-07:00

When I first got home to my new family, it was exciting and stressful all at once. Any new situation is. So I needed a lot of sleep. Sleep is nature's way of helping you adjust to change. It helps you heal and grow and learn.

I needed to sleep somewhere where I felt safe. It needed to be warm and comfortable and clean. It also needed to be quiet. The worst thing you can do when you're tired is overstimulate yourself. Then you'll NEVER get any good quality sleep. And having a sleep routine really helped too. My routine as a puppy was wake up, toilet, eat, play, toilet, sleep. Wake up, toilet, play, learn, toilet, sleep. Wake up, toilet, play, learn, toilet, sleep. Wake up, toilet, food again (yay!), play, hang out, toilet, sleep.

I slept somewhere quiet. I liked it a lot. Within a day or two I felt very secure there. I knew why I was there (quiet time, rest and sleep), and that I was safe, so I could sleep very easily.

This is where you humans seem to get it all wrong. You forget that sleep is essential. That you need a lot of it, and that you need even more of it when you're growing, healing, learning or stressed. Sleep is not a negotiable area in your life. It's a necessity. We're all animals and we're wired that way. Sure, we can get by on not much if we're pushed. But not forever. As a dog, I try and grab a little rest whenever I can. It keeps me refreshed and ready for whatever opportunties lie ahead! And who doesn't like lazing in the sun in winter, or in the shade on a hot day?

So, I have a couple of questions for you:

Do you have a routine? Do you know when it's time to get up, and when it's time to go to bed?

Do you sleep somewhere that is safe, comfortable, clean and warm (or cool if it's hot) and quiet?

Do you stop with the crazy stimulation and start to do things that get you settled and quiet before bedtime at night?

Do you let yourself have extra sleep at night, or rests and puppy naps during the day or at weekends if you really are doing a lot of learning, healing, growing and adjusting?

Have you ever stopped to think about whether your wake-up environment (home, work, school, the world) is maybe stressing you out more than normal but you haven't adjusted your routine to support coping with all this new stress?

Do you keep stuff that overstimulates you, like computers, offices, mobile phones or game consoles IN YOUR BEDROOM???????

LESSON: Sleep is an essential part of being healthy and well adjusted. If we're not coping in life, maybe we need to improve our sleeping routine and get more quiet time and rest. Remove the stimulation at least 30 minutes before bedtime. Get rid of the stuff in your bedroom that keeps you stimulated when you should be resting. Make your bedroom safe and comfortable, and keep it clean!

Life's Second Chances

2008-07-01T01:04:00.000-07:00

In the beginning, I was born. That much is a given for all of us. But there were too many dogs already on that farm, and none of the neighbours wanted another pup. The humans brought us into a big town, and started looking around for new homes for us. I'm a working dog, and city people wanted a pup that looked fluffy and cute, and that would wait quietly at home all day - no trouble, and no effort. I was the sort of dog that needed attention. Discipline. Training. My kind of breed had a bad reputation in town. Week after week we all waited, and finally the man who'd brought us to town started knocking the pups in my litter on the head with a shovel.

A lady came to the gate, asking about the puppies. She wanted a female, but there were none left. They'd been killed. She had a kind voice. I tottered over and sat on her foot, and put my small paw up on her knee.

"Excuse me," I said quietly. "They're killing dogs here." I sat steadfastly on her foot, willing her to bend down and take me. My whole body was intent on that one purpose. My ears locked onto her voice and I waited. Hopefully. Purposefully. I quivered with the energy that was running through me. I felt so alive. This was it. The big moment. The bit in your life when time slows down, and you hear the doors opening or closing on your future.

She bent down and ruffled my ears. She scooped me up and I could hear her heart beating as fast as mine.

"He's not really what I was looking for, but maybe I'll take him anyway."

She looked in my eyes and I realised I'd been given a second chance. And I knew I had to make this life count. Life is not a dress rehearsal - it's the real thing, with more twists and turns than a country mile.

So, from that day I've made it my business to understand people, and to help them where I can. That's why I'm here. So I can help you too!

Learning: Never give up hope. Believe in miracles. Focus on a specific positive outcome as though your life depends upon it - because maybe it does. See that outcome as though it has already happened. And when you get that outcome, give thanks, be grateful and give back!