Little Matilda joined our family in early April, following the sad loss of our beautiful Theo to lymphoma earlier in the year. She needed us as much as we needed her – her previous Mum had developed some health issues and was no longer able to look after her, so we took Luna to meet Matilda and they were friends at first sight…
She is, as all puppies are, part little angel, part tiny demon… but as Carl Jung once wrote, “The greater the contrast, the greater the potential. Great energy only comes from a correspondingly great tension of opposites.”
“The greater the contrast, the greater the potential. Great energy only comes from a correspondingly great tension of opposites.” – Carl Jung
Matilda certainly has great energy, as Luna can testify; they play crazy games of chase together – not caring whether they are in the garden, bedroom or sitting room, and then subside in a panting, happy heap. Like Luna, and like Daisy before her, Matilda knows how to bring the joy…
Matilda of course has no concept of self-judgement – she is fearless! She doesn’t worry that she is “not good enough” because she likes to roll in pigeon poo, or that she is a “bad person” because she cherishes secret fantasies of catching one of the voles who inhabit the garden wall… she doesn’t wallow in guilt because she was sick on our duvet at 4am… she just is as she is, and accepts herself for who she is because she has no idea that there is any other way to be. What liberation! No wonder she is so joyful…
Self-acceptance is a key aspect in developing wellbeing and rediscovering our own joy. To quote Carl Jung once again, “How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also if I am to be whole.” When we can accept all of ourselves – the light as well as the dark – then we are liberated from others’ judgements of us; we realise that what others think of us is not about us at all – it is a reflection of their own thoughts and being.
Matilda’s Teaching:
It doesn’t matter what others think of you – it is what you think of you that is the most important thing. Become fearless and spread the joy!
