The word unconditional simply means not subject to any conditions. Unconditional love is loving without judgment of flaws or limits or inadequacies. It means recognizing our own divinity.
Lee Byrd
What most of us humans want in relationships is to be seen and heard in a loving, compassionate way. We naturally yearn for unconditional love and acceptance. Pets give us this and ask nothing in return.
Pets serve a special place in our hearts and in our lives. Yes, they chew up our favorite cozy slippers, pee on the floor and shred the arm of the new sofa—still we love them. Even after being scolded, they can’t wait to jump into our lap or onto our shoulder, and cuddle.
Angelic Benefits of Being Loved by a Pet
Animals are part of the angelic realm. Here are a few angelic benefits they offer:
- They are naturally compassionate, making us feel loved, valued and special.
- When we arrive home they are always happy to see us no matter how long we’ve been gone.
- They never have an ulterior motive, there is never an expectation except to be fed and maybe some attention.
- They are loyal and will never betray or abandon us.
- They may be demanding—dogs will want to go for that walk we promised and they always will let us know it’s time to eat. Cats may want what they want when they want it, and certainly let us know!
- And although they can be demanding, they never argue with us.
They welcome us home even if all we did was go out to retrieve the mail. With wags, purrs or wiggles, they wake us in the morning demanding to be fed. They bark or yowl to let us know that someone is knocking just in case we didn’t notice.
In addition to being our alarm clock and security system, pets are genetically wired to provide empathy, unconditional love, understanding and connection. When we are hurting emotionally, our friends may want to help by finding solutions when in truth we simply need to be heard. Pets naturally hold space for us while we cry and lament our sorrows, without judgment or the need for us to be different.
The Five Most Important Lessons Our Pets Teach Us:
- Presence. Pets live in the present moment only. If we are late feeding them, they let it go and enjoy their meal when it arrives. That’s presence.
- Love. Pets show us the power of unconditional love. They remind us that our purpose here is to love and be loved.
- Compassion. Our pet companions teach us the importance of compassion through loving kindness. They trust us and are always grateful for our being part of their lives.
- Joy. When we leave the room or the house and return moments or hours later, they are thrilled that we are back. They are happy to go for walks or just be let out in the yard to run around. They purr with delight when we allow them to sit in our laps. They chirp and sing, run in circles and jump for joy in our presence.
- Trust. Pets know who they are. They don’t read books or attend seminars or sit with teachers. They came into this life knowing and they never question that.
Practicing Pet “Withness” in Nature
Practice the art of “withness,” or being fully present with your pet. This means being together for no other reason than to be with each other. For this practice, bring a small journal with you.
If you have a pet you can take outdoors, try walking in nature and communing with everything around you: trees, birds, insects, aromas, breezes, sounds, sensations. Stop and listen, notice colors and textures on the ground and in the sky. What do you smell? How does the air feel on your skin?
Watch how your pet interacts in the environment with their senses. Do they stop to find flavors to smell? Do they look around or keep focused on the ground? Does your pet want more activity or is your pet content with moving along at your pace with you?
Find a place to stand still or sit with your pet and enjoy a few moments of stillness together. Write down how you feel just being with your pet, with no other expectations or agenda. Did you notice anything new about how your pet responds to being in nature? In what ways does your pet respond to you differently than when you’re both at home?
Lifetime Bond
Pets bond with us for life. They understand us on the nonverbal, energetic level because they are in sync with our emotional frequency. They get us and are often more aware of our feelings before we are.
All humans need to love and be loved and cared for, it is an integral part of life. Pets provide a critical role in helping us to create a healthy, well balanced life. They love us unconditionally, meaning just the way we are. Our pets keep us accountable for feeding, sheltering and caring for them.
So, next time Luna or Bella chews up your favorite cozy slippers, pees on the floor or shreds the arm of the new sofa, remember that they are indeed your best friend. They are loyal and will always be there no matter what, the purest unconditional love.