Feed the dog
Why feed the dog?
The RFDS ‘feed the dog’ road show is inspired by the story of two dogs:
One evening a grandfather told his grandson about a great battle that goes on inside all people. He said, “Mate, the battle is between two ‘dogs’ inside us. One is negative. It is fear, guilt, shame, self-doubt, pessimism, blame and anger. The other is positive. It is love, hope, compassion, encouragement, truth, community and mateship” The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which dog wins?” The grandfather simply replied, “The one you feed.”
It is well known that how we think influences how we feel – we talk about the glass being half full or half empty. We also know that what we do affects our state of mind. If we get out, talk with friends, solve a problem or finish a job on the “to do” list, we feel good in ourselves. For some people this positive attitude seems to come naturally, for others it is more of a struggle.
The message of the two dogs is that we can choose how we think about things.
“Feeding the dog” is not about ‘looking on the bright side’ whatever the situation. It is about a strategy to think more realistically about life and to manage tough times in a more positive way. If we train ourselves to feed the positive thoughts and actions, we are much more likely to stay mentally healthy.
Tips to stay mentally healthy
- Notice how you react to situations. Do your thoughts automatically go towards positive or negative explanations of events? Work on finding the most helpful explanation.
- Notice your coping style. Do you tend to think you will cope with what is thrown at you or do you fear you will crumble? Look back at times you’ve coped and build on the positive.
- Stay connected. We all need caring and supportive relationships.
- Cultivate happiness and spend time doing things you enjoy. What brings a smile to your face?
- Don’t give up!
Follow this link to find more information and explore more ways to stay mentally healthy.
Concerned about your mental health or someone you care about?
Sometimes life faces us with so much sadness or so many challenges that the positive seems very hard to find. “Feeding the dog” is not about ‘looking on the bright side’ whatever the situation. It cannot take problems or sadness away. But understanding that we can choose how we think about a situation and how we deal with it, can be the first step to getting back on track.
It is especially important to fight back if we get depressed or anxious, when we find that our thoughts become very negative. Then the choice to feed the positive is very important – and often very difficult. It can be very helpful to talk to someone about strategies to get through.
If you or someone you care about are finding life tough going, click here for more information and to find out what to do next.
Remember: If you need urgent help, contact the appropriate helpline number.
Take care of your physical health
Physical and mental health are closely linked – it is hard to stay mentally healthy if you are physically unwell and sometimes mental illness has a physical cause. On the other side, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can have enormous benefits for positive mental health.
Follow this link for information on general health checks.