What We Learned from Animals About Living & Dying Well – Part 1 of 2
Let’s continue our focus on what we learned from animals about living well. And then we’ll look at what they taught us about dying well in Part 2.
In our previous blog post, we shared exactly we mean about living well through the last breath the BrightHaven way.
BrightHaven Guiding Principles for Living Well
Here are some of BrightHaven’s key guiding principles for living well that we learned from animals. They are fundamental tenets of our work and our daily lives:
- We emphasize healing, which is the internal process of achieving balance and harmony of body, mind and spirit. We also include emotions as thoughts often spark and shape feelings. This balance helps to release the body’s natural healing abilities. And our role is to support this innate process.
- By following the wisdom of animals, we created the BrightHaven Menu for Healing, which forms the foundation of our work. It focuses on the best quality of life at all stages. And its goal: achieve optimal balance of body, mind and spirit, regardless of circumstances.
- Symptoms are nothing to fear. They can give us a lot of information about what’s going on with our loved one. This data helps us to provide them with the proper support. Also, it’s important to look at the big picture, including family dynamics, etc. that may negatively impact an animal’s wellbeing.
- We view the physical body as the vehicle that allows our soul and spirit to navigate this life, and so we care for it lovingly.
More of What We Learned from Animals About Living Well
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We value animals as our equals and as great wise and wonderful educators. They are worthy of honor, respect and kindness as co-inhabitants of this planet. And each and every being—human and nonhuman animals, and plants—have their own one-of-a-kind life journey and purpose. We also feel that every being is a unique expression of Source.
Purrci enjoying a cardboard box
- We honor the physical, emotional, spiritual and energetic bond between people and their animals. The quality of relationships has a tremendous impact on the happiness, health and wellbeing of all concerned.
- Animals are perceptive, emotional beings, capable of awareness and feelings, including distress. They deserve an environment and conditions (including diet, enrichment, etc.) that allow them to achieve a state of balance, harmony and wellbeing throughout their entire lives.
- Animals are always true to themselves, and we lovingly accept them just as they are.
- Death is not the end. This life is simply part of a longer, perhaps never-ending trajectory. We are all a part of all there is… and all beings are on similar journeys.
- We have faith that all is well as it is in this moment, and that everything is unfolding perfectly for the highest good of all concerned.
- Love is an essential, transformative and mighty healing force! The importance of love to living a joyful, abundant and rewarding life is indisputable.
- And at BrightHaven, it’s all about living well—and fully—through the last breath!
It’s only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth — and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up, we will then begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had.” —Elisabeth Kübler–Ross
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Thank you for spending this time with us. We hope this piece brought you comfort, insight, or a moment of reflection on your journey with your beloved companion. If you’d like to continue receiving thoughtful resources, stories, and guidance, you’re always welcome to stay connected with our BrightHaven community.
We truly appreciate your support!