Unleashing Inner Strength: Lessons from Dog Training and Addiction Therapy

Unlock the transformative power of focused attention and self-empowerment with today's riveting podcast episode. Dive into a captivating metaphor inspired by an extraordinary dog training video, illustrating how our survival instincts mirror those of a wild animal when faced with addiction or emotional fragility. Discover parallels between Cesar Millan's approach to taming aggressive dogs and therapeutic techniques for overcoming personal struggles.

Key Takeaways:
- Understand the brain’s instinctual response to pain and how it fuels addictive behaviors.
- Learn about neuroplasticity and the role of focused mental force in reshaping thought patterns.
- Explore practical steps to harness inner strength through mindful practices like Muay Thai.

Tune in now to uncover strategies for reclaiming control over your life, one intentional moment at a time!

#DogWhisperer #CesarMillan #AddictionRecovery #LimbicSystem #MentalStrength #MuayThaiTraining #Neuroplasticity #MindAndBrainBook #FocusAndAttention #TherapyMetaphors #OvercomingFear #PersonalGrowthJourney #PodcastInsights #[PodcastName]

In today's podcast, I'm putting together about four or five books that I've read in combination with a video that my son introduced to us last night. Anyway, he came over to visit us last night. This is my 32-year-old son. He says, man, I watched this really fascinating video of an amazing dog whisperer dog trainer that trained, that was able to gentle like the most vicious wild dog. Anyway, it's just fascinating to watch and I'm using that as a metaphor for those, as a therapist I've worked with for a number of years who struggle with addiction. 

For example, like this wild dog is all limbic survival, just instinctively responding to things. And people who struggle with addiction issues are in limbic survival, trying to protect a part of themselves from pain because they don't know how to deal with it. It's the same metaphor. But oh my gosh, this video showed this dog owner and she was the weakest—I've got to be gentle with my words here—but just a pathetically weak, fragile human being. So this German shepherd was picking up on her energy and was just wild in protecting her. 

So this individual moved out from Chicago to live with her sister. I think it was in California—not sure—Texas or California anyway, but there was land on the property where she had a little studio apartment. But there was an inside yard. Right? But anyone in that inside yard would be in tremendous danger. As a matter of fact, her sister, who she moved in with, the dog attacked her to the point where she had serious wounds, had a number of stitches, and was terrified of this dog.

The video shows this dog absolutely out of control with everybody. But the issue was the owner; this woman was so fragile and so weak. And so anyway, watching this dog trainer come in, the very first thing that he did was watch what was happening and he was like, okay. He was concerned; he was worried because dealing with a wild beast isn't—when you're dealing with mother nature in its raw form—you've got to be really cautious.

Here you have this professional dog trainer; his name is Cesar Millan. The very first thing he did was speak this dog's language. In other words, the dog owned the territory in that backyard. So the first thing he did was started to—I think he got a rag and saturated it with vinegar—and slowly opened the door to the backyard. This dog would be going crazy and he threw out this rag with the vinegar that would have a strong scent to it, right? Speaking to the limbic dog—right? Smell.

So Cesar, the dog trainer, started marking his territory like the dog would respond to. There was a confrontation; the dog was still trying to figure out how to attack this dog trainer but had a tennis racket to protect himself—or the dog trainer had a tennis racket—and then kept throwing the rag out around and marking his territory anyway.

They did a series of things to help show the dog that it was not in charge—that Cesar showed that he was in charge—but very respectfully, very mindfully, and not in a violent way at all. Then he took the dog to his residence and started socializing him with other dogs. Long story short, the dog was socialized; he was able to get him to stop being so violent and just creating massive fear in other people.

I mean because it reached the point where the sister with the dog—who was the core issue—was going to have to move someplace else. But then all she does is stay in her house with her dog; she can't go out anywhere; no one can come in. That's not a very good life.

After the dog trainer socialized him and showed him that he was in charge and taught him rules and boundaries—the dog responded because he showed him he was in charge. It reminds me of the old Lakota Indians as they looked at horse herds; they had a word: otankhon—which means leader or great one. Every horse herd—again, this is all limbic world stuff—always had a leader; always had a dominant leader.

Every one of the horses in the herd knew who was in charge—that's how a horse herd functions. It's interesting that horses are always asking the question: are you in charge or am I in charge? Once they receive that message that a certain horse is in charge—then their duty is to follow that leader.

So there's two things that a horse does: He will follow who is in charge and his other job is always testing the leader to make sure they are indeed in charge. That's why they always keep pushing and pushing; as long as that leader shows they're in charge—they will submit and follow rules and boundaries provided for them.

Back to this wild dog: after Cesar Millan trained him—it’s fascinating to see how it got gentled—he brought the owner of the dog—the woman who just wasn’t trying to diagnose her in any way—but she seemed extremely fragile; you could tell that.

They took her back into her environment where she would be confronted by her own wild animal—instead of allowing herself space from those fears—they helped her find strength within herself through Muay Thai—a form of kickboxing—to try helping her find some strength within herself.

As they took her back to her dog—showed her—you’ve got to show this dog you’re in charge—that you are not going to tolerate its behavior—as she first attempted it—she remained very weak and fragile.

They kept working with her teaching more self-efficacy type things like Muay Thai—and tremendous progress made it so that eventually—the dog could be socialized back into family life—and they continue working on this process.

It's similar to what I've experienced as a therapist: I've worked with adult female survivors of childhood sexual abuse noticing something similar within them; because they have been taken advantage of—there's part of them feeling fragile—we have to strengthen that.

With about a thousand individuals—I’ve done Muay Thai with them—put boxing gloves on them so I have mitts—and they have boxing gloves—and teach them how hit mitts and kick—it’s been one of most amazing things I’ve seen helping them find power within themselves.

So anyway—I know I'm rambling all over—but I want you take away from this podcast: if you're struggling with weakness or addiction—a secret addiction—there’s difference between mind & brain—the mind wants control knowing right & wrong while brains survive by avoiding pain at all costs.

Anything we’re insecure about inside ourselves learned through repeated experience—we suffered trauma or neglect—we don’t feel secure—that's where addiction comes into play—that's where our wild dogs come saying: I will take care of you! 

It’s doing only what it knows how—to get away from pain because we can’t deal with it; our brains survive by avoiding emotional pain or physical pain interpreting threats against survival.

When we feel unsure—we're not confident—we feel fragile & hurt—that's when our limbic system—or metaphorically speaking our wild dogs come saying: I will protect you! 

And only way protect you is fight those things distracting us into alcohol drugs or inappropriate sexual behavior—it’s attempt at limbic system taking care us—it’s doing what meant do! 

So what’s answer? Learning face fears whatever they may be—in one books I'm rereading now—it truly one best books ever encountered entitled "The Mind And The Brain" by Dr Jeffrey M Schwartz & Sharon Begley.

It’s an amazing book going deep research how brain functions constantly reorganizing itself trying deal things; core principle his book states way change brain significantly called power mental force—it’s thought but attention! 

It has focus on dealing issue at hand if distracted weak attention task brain doesn’t change significantly—but full attention given task—that’s when significant changes occur—even visualization mindfulness shows if focus clearly enough mind's eye brain responds as if physically doing!

That’s profound breakthrough power mindfulness: brain cannot tell difference between actual physical activity rehearsed mentally! Gotta careful where allow minds go & think!

If you think it's brain what we’re doing actually doing thing; brain can’t tell difference! 

Anyway—I know podcast has been all over place—but profound experience last night watching video son made me notice similarities metaphor between those struggle addictive behaviors—it’s exactly like wild dogs! 

That’s why when anyone struggles addiction—we cannot shame them! Shaming does no good! Brain merely doing what meant do! Trying find way protect person—even bizarre behaviors has positive intention behind it!

So conclusion? We gotta really take look what fear we feel fragile about focusing attention areas going into middle storm working on fears confronting ourselves realizing brain just doing naturally try take care us!

Each person must answer questions for themselves: What will your life stand for? Why are you here? What is your purpose? What do you need do? 

If there are things making feel insecure keep working on them! Today’s new day! Always now time concept—think about it! There never time when not now!

Now only time can think future past change anything reset focus mindful activity practice affirmations rewiring brain realizing negative thoughts fears hitting refresh button!

No—I am strong! I am capable! I will figure out way! I will overcome trial! Keep moving forward focusing stronger clearer pattern whatever choose do!

At end day—I know done podcasts subject before life matter attention quality attention give thoughts specific task important consider right?

Someone ability focus task timeline specific period time—for hour going do specific thing goal deadline practice ability focus task changes brain!

But if constantly distracted left right left right left right mind does nature—we don’t really change much consistent practice meaningful tasks set for ourselves confronting fears searching answers!

But goes back reset over again “Can do” attitude—I will figure it out! Anything life feeling out control don’t feel control relationships vulnerable taken advantage whatever might be aware acknowledge say hmm gonna work correcting work right now!

Because now only thing ever have—I will figure out way chill little bit healthy sense humor—not victim anything power inside just shown how get there!

Just like lady when Cesar Millan brought out her dog started going crazy jumping on said can’t tolerate but gotta clearly show you're charge—not weak oh don’t do back down enough take stand!

Mindfully we can do against own wild parts ourselves realizing brain just doing naturally take care us food overeating finding wisdom managing distractions life living life setting yourself up!

Anyway those are some thoughts wanted share morning hopefully helpful! Life matter attention focused attention specific task over again changes brain again amazing book "The Mind And The Neuroplasticity And The Power Of Mental Force" by Dr Jeffrey Schwartz maybe book nerd sometimes hard read some stuff pure gold think!

All right have an amazing day!