I believe that we can not escape dominance; it is a part of this world.

What Is Dominance?
-Dominance refers to the state or quality of being in control, having authority, or exerting influence over others. In various contexts, dominance can relate to social relationships, behavior, or the ability to assert power and control within a group or situation.

Even when we think about something as simple as a stop sign. A stop sign has dominance over us. When we see it, we are influenced to stop.

But why?

Because of the consequences of not stopping 🛑

Dominance often gets a bad rap because of how people associate with the word. Some people think that dominance is all about disregarding another's well-being and autonomy, being a bully, and abusive. I am not denying that there can be unhealthy forms of dominance. That for sure can be the case. But we should not classify all dominance as bad, toxic; unhealthy. Just like there can be unhealthy forms of leadership, that does not make leadership in and of itself bad, toxic; unhealthy. We want to strive to be competent in our dominance.

We want to be competent leaders, step-parents to our dogs.

What is Competence?
Competence is the possession of the suitable skills, abilities, knowledge, or qualities to perform a task or fulfill a role effectively. A competent person is proficient and capable in their area of expertise, demonstrating the necessary qualifications and skills required for a particular job or activity.

While we may have some innate abilities or predisposition to be competent in areas, competence is largely developed through learning, hands-on experience, and practice. It is cultivated and enhanced over a lifetime.

Believe it or not, I am not perfect 😉 I make mistakes. But I take accountability for them and am constantly learning and developing myself from those mistakes, to be more and more competent for myself, the others around me, and the dogs. 

Believe me, you will make mistakes along the way, but are you taking accountability for them? Are you learning, growing, and becoming better from them? Or are you not taking accountability, blaming others, making up excuses, and being a victim?