The Animal Connection: Finding Your Path with the Guidance of Animals

By Dr Elizabeth O'Connor

Written to inspire the loving connection to animals and nature. Liz shares her trials to triumph stories with you to guide you to a level of connection where you become the best version of yourself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press AU
• Release date: Sep 6, 2022
• ISBN: 9781504314077

Dr Elizabeth O'Connor

From the age of three, Liz knew that she would always have a special connection with animals. From the age of fourteen, she knew that she would be a veterinarian. Wise beyond her years, as a teenager she observed that animals, as long as they had basic freedoms, appeared to live in a world of happiness, content in the moment. Humans, by contrast, seemed full of doubts, worries and fear, and often those behaviours translated into their treatment of animals. She knew then that humans have a significant amount to learn from animals. True to her vision, Liz has been a qualified vet for twenty years, with twelve years' experience running her own small-animal practice on the central coast of New South Wales. Over her years of practice she has keenly observed the relationships between humans and animals – the highs of joy and happiness on both sides – but also the lows of maltreatment and neglect, which brought her close to despair. Due to a major life crisis, she set off on a journey to learn more about herself, delving deeply into human psychology, the way people can derive joy from valuing animals and nature, and how this could be the key to their own happiness. 'The Animal Connection' is the result of that search.

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ISBN: 978-1-5043-1406-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-1407-7 (e)

Balboa Press rev. date:  09/01/2022

DISCLAIMER

All the information, techniques, skills and concepts contained within this publication are in the nature of general comment only and are not in any way recommended as individual advice. Should any reader choose to make use of the information contained herein, this is their decision, and the author and publisher do not assume any responsibilities whatsoever under any conditions or circumstances. The author and publisher do not take responsibility for the results of the reader’s decision to use this information. It is recommended that the reader obtain their own independent advice.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

I would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which I have worked and written this book, and pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

I appreciate the intimate connection with nature that I have witnessed and insights I have gained from various ceremonies that connect us in gratitude to spirit and Mother Earth. May these become more valued on earth and may we become more conscious of our connection to all beings, going above and beyond to protect the environment that is so vital for all of us.

PREFACE

At the age of three, I wanted to be a veterinarian, as a result of a decision I made about the people and animals around me. I saw people and animals in moments of fear, tension, worry and doubt. Then I saw them in moments of happiness, caring, inspiration and nurture.

Growing up, I witnessed the love my parents had for the family dog and observed that he was always naturally happy. As I played with the animals and loved them, I noticed how they were in touch with something that many people didn’t seem to understand. The animals were just who they were, being content in the moment, living life to the full. I knew deeply that I would always be their advocate. When I was a little older, I realised we have something important to learn from them too.

The world of humans was always confusing for me. Animals, on the other hand, seemed to be a delightfully simple and free expression of nature’s beauty. Being with them always made me feel at ease and at one with myself. Animals never judged. I was always good enough for them and life was fun. Before too long, I formed a strong desire to help animals and dedicate my life to them.

After years of study, I gained my degree in 1996, finally fulfilling my dream of becoming a veterinarian―a profession that exists for the wellbeing of multiple animal species. Always having a strong desire for freedom, I became determined to have my own practice. I achieved this in 2004, when I opened Avoca Drive Animal Hospital on the Central Coast of NSW.

Since then, my own heartbreak-to-happiness story gave me clarity about a further important mission. A fascination with human psychology led me to explore the human mind and why we gain so much happiness from animals. I was interested in exploring and improving the wellbeing of the human species too.

My ability to help animals was dependent on, and deepened by, the work that I did with their ‘human decision-makers’. My mission now is to inspire as many people as possible to feel the joy of valuing animals and nature, as a way of discovering who they really are and bring happiness into their lives.

In this book, after 26 years in veterinary practice I share the insights and delights that I believe will make a difference to your life and those around you. It will benefit especially those wanting to understand how living consciously, and sharing a deep connection with animals, can bring you to life.

Now with my own clear direction in life, I give you this story—I hope you enjoy it.

CONTENTS

Introduction

How This Book will Benefit You

Why Working with Animals?

Why Another Self-Help Book?

PART 1   CONNECTION

Chapter 1     What is Connection?

Chapter 2     Why Connect?

Chapter 3     The Nature of Our Connection

Chapter 4     How to Connect

Chapter 5     Animals Helping Us Heal

PART 2   POTENTIAL

Chapter 6     Tapping into Positivity

Chapter 7     Feeling Good

Chapter 8     From An Animal’s Point of View

Chapter 9     How Pets Help Us Thrive

Chapter 10   How We Help Pets Thrive?

PART 3   MIRACLES

Chapter 11   The Benefits of Connection

Chapter 12   This Moment Is Unique

Chapter 13   Staying Connected

Resources

INTRODUCTION

How This Book will Benefit You

This book is all about the magic that connects us to the animal world, and how you can tap into it to thrive, not just survive. Once you have tapped into this unseen power, you will experience life differently. The animals in your life already know this magic and can help show you the way to this amazing world. Keep them close by, as they love this way of being as much as you will.

My intention is to share with you the secrets I have picked up over the last 26 years as a vet working with people and animals in cooperation with the Universe. I set out to teach you these secrets one by one in the most practical way possible. I will show you how to reach a point where you never look back, having an alternative way of being in this world, one that is beautiful and in synchrony with nature.

It is possible to increase your personal power and happiness by developing this connection to nature ― this place where everything comes from and goes to. Some call this place the Universe. I call it the life force. It is all the same. It may be beyond your day-to-day perception right now, but I assure you it’s within your reach; and it’s as simple as changing the way you see things.

Connecting to this until-now-elusive life source is of immense value to you. It won’t be about your intellectual understanding of how things work, but a more experiential journey into different states of being. Your connection to nature is about your heart’s yearning and how to live it. This means we will talk about consciousness and developing your personal power with the animals by your side.

The Animal Connection book contains some animal stories along the way. At the end of each chapter, action steps will help reinforce your progress and guide you toward making a difference in the world. An exciting journey lies ahead for you, so let me take you by the hand now, and show you how it is possible to create the future of your dreams in harmony with the animals.

Let’s get started.

Why Working with Animals?

If humans are just animals too, then why do we look for different things in our lives than animals do? Why don’t animals seek what we seek? Why don’t they do what we do? If we are all from the same place, what is that place?

I’ve spent much of my life exploring the answers to these questions. This work has culminated in the book you have in your hands right now. Perhaps this is just the beginning of your path to a more fulfilling connection to nature. Nature sure is an amazing teacher, but what you find on this path will be up to you. Through my love for animals, I found many brilliant answers. I hope they will help you as much as they’ve helped me.

By becoming your true authentic self, you are more in tune with nature, accepting that you are part of it all. You trust that the animals and the environment we share have a happy future, and you want to lift others that haven’t yet learnt about this secret. The animals depend on you to make this leap for yourself and to manifest your new self into being for the benefit of all.

While this is in some ways my personal story, it also includes the ideas of many great masters and other experiences that have guided me along the way.

Why Another Self-Help Book?

There are so many self-help books out there. I’ve read many myself. This one is different. This book is about helping yourself and about helping the animals too. Including them in our lives, and on the journey, we can create a better world. I hope to show you how to use nature’s laws to see life differently. To show you ways that are beneficial to you, to the animals, and to the planet.

I have included some scientific studies that back up what I am telling you, as the science catches up with what we have long known anecdotally. As a professional, I have seen the love and wellness that exists between animals and their human families, and how this connection can be so mutually beneficial and beautiful. Sadly, I’ve also seen that plenty of companion animals ― and, even more so, non-companion ones ― live without the nurturing, loving connection they need. All of this drove me to share this message with you... It is easy to bring miracles into your life and change everything. First, I show you how nature shone through any doubt I had about becoming a vet, which was my dream. Then I lead you through the exact steps you can take to realise your dreams too.

PART 1

CONNECTION

CHAPTER 1

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What is Connection?

Human beings may think we are the most intelligent species, but if we really were all that smart, we would realise the truth: that all beings are connected; everything is connected. In this chapter, I will shine a light on that connection.

An all-too-familiar tale

One day at the clinic, a lady banged the door down and yelled for help at the front desk. In her arms, she was carrying a dying puppy. Immediately attending to the pup, I left the lady sitting in the reception on her own, as there were only two of us in the clinic that day: myself and a nurse. We tried intensively to save the tiny body, pumping oxygen into her little lungs, attempting to warm up the pup and find a way of giving her fluids for shock. After battling for an hour, we sadly lost her, and I had to tell the woman waiting that her companion had died.

Tears flowed down her face, and she howled with distress. Once I could get a coherent word from her, I explored her situation. We’d had no time to get details from her or consent forms signed, but it was immediately apparent as I talked to her that she was not in a position to afford any veterinary treatment for her companion anyway. I questioned her further. When did the pup becoming unwell? Where was the mother? What had brought her to this place of emergency?

The answers were not unexpected to me. In fact, they were common. I’d heard it time and time again. The woman was living day to day, couldn’t make rent, let alone pay to desex the mother. A friend had told her that desexing would be bad for the dog, so the mother dog, a Staffordshire terrier, had gone wandering the streets and quickly become pregnant. Taking her friend’s advice again, the lady thought she would let her dog have the pups. Not knowing anything about how to care for them or care for the mother during a pregnancy had not concerned her; the woman had not noticed anything wrong until one of the pups had become ill. Finally, wanting to avoid a vet bill, she had waited to see if the pup would improve on its own… until it was too late.

We continued our conversation. She blamed her ex, then the government, then her neighbour and finally her friend for giving her the wrong advice. In this moment, I couldn’t have been more frustrated with this woman for her poor choices and the consequences those choices had had on this tiny, innocent life.

Yet, aside from the distress it caused me personally, there was a positive side. This incident focused me on my purpose. This time and every other time I experienced an event like this, I was fine-tuning an even greater desire to improve the lives of people and their animals.

The life stream

The good energy we put out comes back to us as we nurture ourselves and those around us into the best we can be. This intangible energy that nature holds is very real, even though we can’t always see it. This is life’s intelligence, the field, the universal energy flow, or any of a number of different names for the same thing. I call it the ‘life stream’ or simply ‘connection’. Here, I will show you how to experience it for yourself.

When I was 11 years old, I believed the people around me, and this meant doubt crept into my mind about the possibility they would not accept me into Veterinary Medicine when I was older. It was the first time I had had a conversation with my family, and they said to me ’Oh you need to be ‘smart’ to do that profession’. It was the first time that doubt had ever entered my mind that there was even the slightest risk to me not becoming a veterinarian. I was still strongly connected and so never had experienced any doubt up to this point in my life. With little resistance, as a child, I ‘knew’ exactly what to do without asking anyone for any further advice. I took myself aside and sat in the garden and created a clear vision of how I would get into the veterinary medicine at university. I did not know how it all worked, so I envisioned a boardroom with lots of important and threatening looking men in dark suits, sitting around a giant boardroom table. They were deciding who to accept into veterinary science and who they would not. I saw them reading my application and discussing it. They talked about me just barely meeting the ‘standard’ but then agreed to ‘let her in’ and ‘give her a chance. When they made that decision, I was so excited. I was ‘in’ and from that moment, I never looked back. I do not know, and probably will never know if that scene ever played out in real life, but all I can say is that I wasn’t the smartest, best looking or anything else, but 10 years later I was accepted into the course after much determination, and after many setbacks and never giving up. As an adult, I suspect because I was so strongly connected to the ‘life stream’ back then, I could manifest a miracle.

You already live connected to the life stream much of the time without knowing. It involves our nurturing instinct and goodwill toward others that Buddhists call ‘Metta’. In every good feeling you have, and in every living thing around you, there is this amazing energy web that connects us all. There is always a way to step forward in collaboration, to create amazing things together and to become who we are meant to be.

Even though many humans conceptualise life as a fight for survival, it all depends on your perspective. If you chose to look through the eyes of nature and loving kindness, you can see nothing but peace, harmony, and collaboration. There so are many examples in the animal world of collaboration and we can align with that kind of harmony if we wish. If you look at natural systems like the food chain in the ocean, it is easy to see how animals collaborate instinctually. For example, seals, dolphins, birds and even sharks will ‘work’ a bait-ball of fish until everyone gets some benefit from it. Yes, it is still about survival, but it is the collaboration of the natural world we often miss. Looking at things differently, in a way that raises your vibrations, brings big rewards.

Changing your perspective starts with you and how you work in synchronicity with your own mind. Your mind is also one of nature’s amazing gifts. It harmonises with the world around you. Fortunately,