Friday, May 9, 2025
I recently found a rescue dog, a year and a half old, according to the vet’s estimate. One of the first things I noticed about her was how sweet she was. But on a leash, another side materialized. She, in her mind, was the boss. We were going to go where she wanted to go, in her mind. When she sees a squirrel or a cat, forget it. Like a heat seeking missile – she is gone.
She needed a boss. That’s why she came to me. She needed boundaries. She needed discipline. No amount of tugging can help when a dog is “locked and loaded.” No yelling. No treats. No nothing. It’s pure aggression. Once she’s homed in on her prey, I cannot get to her. When she is locked and loaded she is inconsolable. When she crosses the boundaries, she can’t be called back. So what do we do? We train.
The mind must be disciplined in quiet, solitude, and confinement. Not on the spot, so to speak. You can’t train after the shit has hit the fan. Likewise with us. Once you’re gone on an outrage or a rampage, you’re inconsolable. Your outbursts cannot be reigned in once unleashed. Leash training, so to speak, requires confinement to a safe area. You might have to go to the swamp and train with Yoda, if you catch my drift.
That’s why a spiritual practice is important – to tame you from going after your prey, and to teach you to pray. You practice in a controlled environment and recognize your locked-and-loaded tendencies to “go for it.” Remember, once unleashed, aggression cannot be reigned in.
You’re the boss, not the dominator. Learn to pray first, and you’ll learn you don’t have to go after your prey. Everything will come to you with ease after you learn the difference between praying and preying upon.