Are you getting in the way of building the future of your dreams with your dog?   When we welcome a dog into our lives, we usually dream of living in perfect harmony together with (preferably) no ‘unwanted behavior’. So, when things don’t turn out the way we thought they would, it’s easy to let ourselves get lost in a sea of negative thoughts.   We become so focused on everything that’s ‘wrong’ with our lives (and our dogs), that we forget to focus on what’s truly important.   While life can seem like an unpredictable journey with its share of successes and failures, it is key to pay attention when it comes to our emotions, actions, and ultimately, our experiences.    Kathy’s advice? Adopt a "choose your own adventure" mindset to create the life you want with your dog and trust the process. Remain resilient and maintain an optimistic outlook in order to face life’s ups and downs. Practicing good listening without judgment and staying present are great tools for creating a healthy relationship with our dog or ourselves.    So, in this episode of Enlightened By Dogs, Kathy challenges you to start focusing on the right things – things that will help you to create the dream life you’ve always wanted with your dog. She also shares some mindset hacks to help you get there! Key Takeaways   Pay attention to where your attention lies. Learn from mistakes and take a new approach if necessary. Life is a journey of successes and failures. Appreciate the highs and power through the lows. Focus on what is important and take the time to enjoy the good times.   Quotes:   “You and your dog are allowed to be both a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time.”   “Life is like a camera. Focus on what’s important. Capture the good times. Develop yourself from the negatives and if things don’t turn out, take another shot.”   “One day, she realized that the only control she had was how she chose to handle things. So she made the decision to use courage, humor, and grace. She was the queen of her own life, and the choice was hers.”   LOVE TO LEARN MORE?  Become a calm and confident Dog Mom with a cooperative, happy dog ... without obedience training, or relying on treats or arousing games, or corrections of any type.    Here are some next steps:   SUBSCRIBE to Kathy’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/DancingHeartsDogAcademy/videos   LISTEN or READ Kathy’s Podcast and Blog on her Website: https://dancingheartsdogacademy.com/   GET STARTED work with Kathy: https://dancinghearts.link/foundation   LET’S CONNECT on the socials for more partnership tips and advice: -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancinghearts/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathykawalec/   LISTEN TO PODCASTS: Subscribe to the Enlightened By Dogs podcast in your favorite app! Don’t forget to leave us a rating and review – it would make Kathy very happy!   Subscribe on  Apple Podcasts | Listen on Spotify Connect on Facebook: facebook.com/dancinghearts/