The Pause Between Worry and Action
How dog and cat parents can ease anxiety, trust intuition, and find calm in everyday pet care
By Melissa | Animal Intuitive, Energy Healer & Holistic Pet Health Coach
Sometimes with my senior pup, Cooper, I find myself micro-panicking. He’ll sleep so deeply that when I call his name, he doesn’t move, and I can’t see him breathing. In an instant my heart jumps to the worst. Other times he’ll refuse his dinner and drift into a sheep-stare, that far-off, spaced-out look, and I feel the worry rush in before I’ve even exhaled.
Those moments remind me how much I love him, and how much I have to practice pulling myself back into the pause. Notice I said practice, because this truly is a practice. The goal isn’t perfection.
These little panics are sometimes fueled by anxiety, but sometimes they’re fueled by intuition. That’s why it’s so important to pause before rushing into the next thought or action. It’s not about never worrying, I still slip into it too, it’s about recognizing when I’m there and gently pulling myself back out again.
As pet parents, our love often skips straight to worry. One small thing, a cough, a skipped meal, a strange look in the eye, and our minds can leap ten steps ahead in a heartbeat. It’s a sign of how deeply we care, but it can leave us feeling like we’re always holding our breath, waiting for the worst.
What I’ve learned is that there’s a tiny space between noticing something and reacting to it. A pause. Most of us don’t even notice it’s there, but that’s where our power lives.
In that pause, we can take a single breath. We can soften our shoulders. We can whisper to ourselves: I don’t need the answer right this second.
That pause changes everything. Instead of spiraling into frantic Googling or tense energy that our pets immediately pick up on, we can meet the moment with a steadier heart. Our pets feel the shift too, the difference between our anxiety wrapping around them and our grounded presence supporting them. I’ve seen it with Cooper: when I soften, he does too. In animal communication sessions, this comes up often. Pets will share that they sense something from their guardian but aren’t quite sure what to make of it. The big worry itself worries them. They are so tuned in to us. Our animals mirror our energy in the most honest ways.
Here are a few simple ways I practice the pause:
Hand to heart, and one deep inhale/exhale
Imagining roots from my feet grounding me to the earth
A mantra: We’re okay right now.
These aren’t about ignoring real issues, of course, if something is truly wrong, we act. But the pause gives us a way to meet worry with love instead of panic.
If you missed last week’s post on presence over perfection, you can find it here. It’s a lovely foundation for what we’re practicing today. And this coming Wednesday I’ll be sharing the full guided meditation so you can practice the pause in real time.
Have you noticed yourself leaping from a flicker of worry into full-blown panic? What helps you find the pause? I’d love to hear your stories. And if you’d like to stay connected for more reflections and practices like this, be sure to subscribe or share with a fellow pet parent who might need the reminder too.
Connect With Me
If you’d like personalized guidance on bringing more calm, presence, and connection into your life with your animals, I offer 30-minute mini coaching sessions, to help you cultivate calm in your household. We can talk about your unique situation and practice simple ways to help both you and your animal companions feel more at ease.
📅 Book a session here: https://calendly.com/melissacalmingcreek
A space to connect, reset, and feel more present with your animals.
💌 I’d love to hear: What’s one small moment of presence you shared with your animal this week?
With love (and a little more permission to simply be),
Melissa
Thank you so much for reading this post! Please let me know what you think.
My name is Melissa, and I’m an animal communicator, energy healer, and holistic pet health coach. I weave together a variety of gentle, natural modalities to support animals and their humans including Reiki, EFT/Tapping, chakra balancing, muscle testing, tuning fork fascia release, canine herbalism, and both feline and canine nutrition. I'm also currently studying clinical animal iridology to further expand the holistic lens I bring to this work.
I live on a little farm sanctuary where I'm happily outnumbered by animals—seven dogs, three cats, and a mix of other furry, feathered, and hooved friends who keep life interesting. My approach is heart-centered and intuitive, combining ancient practices and modern knowledge to help bring balance, comfort, and clarity to our four-legged companions.
Thank you for taking the time to explore ways to enhance the quality of life for your furry companions. I hope my tips and recommendations prove invaluable to both you and your beloved pets. For more information and to discover how I can assist you further, please visit my website at calmingcreek.com.
I'd love to hear from you! Whether you have stories to share or questions to ask, don't hesitate to join the conversation in the comments section below.
For more pet health tips and other ways to connect:
I always want to empower you with information and support but I also want to be clear.
Disclaimer: This content is not a substitute for medical or veterinary care. It’s meant to support you with education and holistic tools, not replace professional advice. Please always consult with your vet or healthcare provider when needed.
Spot-on and a great reminder. Love this: "... the difference between our anxiety wrapping around them and our grounded presence supporting them." That's IT!