Who let the dogs out?

6/2/2014

I heard about a doctor who said to a patient regarding a longer-term problem, "what works best is to surround your problem with many barking dogs." What he meant was: some medication (woof), a change in diet (growl), and more exercise (bow-wow).

I've turned this very smart thought over and over in my mind, trying to distill the doctor's insight into a clear and simple message about problems. Especially problems that are not run-of-the-mill. I'm talking about the confusing, complicated or even vaguely defined problems where this isn't one answer or a single treatment.

As a coach, conversations I have with clients touch on a wide range of problems -- career challenges, marital problems, lifestyle issues. Typical health and wellness examples? People want to lose weight, exercise more, reduce their stress and anxiety, or drink and smoke less.

Even for the motivated person - or dog - change isn't easy or quick!

Everyone has their own way of making changes and addressing problems. But, in general, surrounding the matter at hand with a pack of barking dogs is a useful way to diversify your solutions:

the woofs keep you alert so you don't slip into inertia;
the growls add a rightful note of fear to the proceedings; and
the bow-wows keep you moving ahead.

If you need some help letting your dogs out - to surround your problems - contact me.

Coach Minda

3 Comments

Coach Minda

Building and sustaining relationships is central to my life. It is important to see people and things as they really are. I enjoy lots of different people and enjoy free and open discussions. I thrive on helping people resolve problems, turn around difficult relationships and see an optimistic future when others are stuck.

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MIRIAM CHERNIAK

6/2/2014 02:35:17 pm

Getting a puppy about 1 1/2 years ago has reinforced my feeling (knowing?) that it's all about timing. Trying to learn from all the barking dogs when you're not ready usually doesn't work, and you just end up being very frustrated and stresssed about the barking and wondering how you ended up with so many dogs. What comes first - being ready for the barking dogs, or getting the dogs and then being ready to work on the problem? Probably a combination of both, but I'm a big believer in the timing having to be right and then you can really see and hear the dogs for what they are.

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6/2/2014 03:04:58 pm

What a great point! Surround yourself with barking dogs only when the time is right! Or, one dog at a time. Or, one barking dog prepares you to take on the the next.

Thanks so much Miriam

Susan Meindl

6/3/2014 01:10:55 am

Sometimes the designated "problems"... like over-eating, alcohol and drug use, procrastination, angry outbursts, even depression... that people bring to therapy are actually the barking dogs themselves... symptoms that point to underlying anxiety, grief or rage that are converting themselves into physical or behavioral symptoms and dysfunctions ... raising a howl of alarm as a call to consciousness or in an attempt to communicate with others around the sufferer.

Who let the dogs out?