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2024-11-24 21:04:48I have a fairly disciplined and obedient dog. She’s a bundle of energy wrapped in a well-trained package, ready to show off her tricks at the drop of a hat. From the basics like “sit” and “stay” to more impressive moves like “spin around,” “shake,” and even “play dead,” she’s got an arsenal of talents that never fail to entertain. But what’s most remarkable isn’t just her repertoire of skills—it’s her eager enthusiasm, the way her tail wags furiously in anticipation of the treat she knows is coming. Watching her perform, it’s clear that, in many ways, humans aren’t so different—we all do tricks for the rewards we want. #### Who's Your Master? Who do you do tricks for, so you get something you want? At first glance, the question might feel uncomfortable. “I’m nobody’s dog,” you might say. But peel back the layers of pride, and you may find that we all engage in this kind of dynamic every day, in ways both subtle and overt. Your boss? Your spouse? Your kids? Your friends? At some point, each of these relationships involves a trade—actions performed in the hope of receiving something in return. It might be money, validation, affection, approval, or peace of mind. Whatever the "treat" is, it motivates us to act in ways that align with someone else’s desires. We perform tricks, consciously or unconsciously, because we want the reward. The question isn’t whether this happens. The question is, who holds your leash, and how much are you willing to do for the treats they offer? #### The Professional Arena The workplace is one of the most obvious places where the “dog and treat” analogy holds true. Your boss asks for a report, a presentation, or overtime. You comply. Why? Because there’s a paycheck at the end of the month, perhaps a chance for a promotion, or even just the avoidance of getting reprimanded. Think about it: Have you ever found yourself bending over backward to meet a deadline, staying late to finish a task, or meticulously crafting an email just to curry favor? It’s a trick. Maybe it’s a complicated one, requiring skill and effort, but it’s a trick nonetheless. And the treat? Job security, recognition, or the satisfaction of knowing you’re a "good employee." But at what cost? Dogs don’t choose their tricks—they’re taught what their owners want them to do. Similarly, how often do we fall into routines and behaviors at work that we didn’t consciously choose but adopted to stay in the good graces of our employers? #### The Personal Sphere Our personal lives are not exempt from this dynamic. Consider your relationships with family, friends, and significant others. How often do we act in ways designed to elicit a specific response? You might clean the house before your partner gets home, hoping for appreciation. You might help a friend move, expecting gratitude (and maybe some pizza and beer). You might listen to your child’s endless stories about their day, not just out of love, but because you want their trust and affection. None of this is inherently bad. Acts of service and care are the glue that binds relationships. But it’s worth asking: Are these actions genuine expressions of love and connection, or are they performed under the unspoken pressure of earning a treat? What happens when the treat doesn’t come? What if your spouse doesn’t notice the clean house, or your friend forgets to say thank you? Does the absence of a treat leave you bitter? If so, it might be time to reexamine whether you’re performing tricks out of choice or obligation. #### Societal Tricks and Collective Treats Beyond our personal and professional circles, we perform tricks on a societal level. Social norms, traditions, and expectations shape our behavior in profound ways. We act a certain way to be accepted by a community or to maintain a specific image. Consider social media. Every post, photo, and comment is a trick designed to earn a treat: zaps, likes, comments, or shares. The dopamine hit of online validation can be as addictive as a dog’s favorite treat. We curate our lives to please an invisible audience, performing tricks that align with societal expectations of success, beauty, or wit. #### Who’s Holding Your Leash? Acknowledging this dynamic doesn’t mean we’re powerless. In fact, it’s an opportunity to reflect on who or what controls our actions. Are we acting out of genuine desire, or are we being trained to jump through hoops for treats that don’t truly satisfy us? The leash might be held by a boss, a partner, or societal pressures, but it can also be self-imposed. Sometimes, we’re our own masters, setting impossible standards for ourselves and punishing ourselves when we fail to meet them. The key is awareness. A dog performing a trick knows the treat is coming—it’s a conscious exchange. Similarly, we can choose our tricks and treats more intentionally. #### Finding Freedom in Choice We can’t escape the "dog and treat" dynamic entirely. Human relationships and societies are built on mutual exchanges, and that’s not inherently a bad thing. But by becoming more mindful of who or what we’re performing for, we can take back some control. What if you choose your tricks more deliberately? What if you decided which treats are worth chasing and which aren’t? What if you recognized when a leash is being tightened around your neck and chose to slip free? #### The Choice is Yours We’re all just dogs doing tricks for a treat. That’s not a condemnation—it’s a truth worth reflecting on. Every trick we perform, every treat we chase, is an opportunity to ask: Is this worth it? Am I acting out of genuine desire, or am I simply following the tug of the leash? Choose your master wisely. ###